President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria is blessed with rich human and natural resources and deficit opportunities, which could be quickly leveraged into new prosperity.

Nonetheless, the president said Nigerians were not utilising the resources that would be useful for the country’s prosperity.

‘’We have an abundance of knowledge and untapped mineral resources, and an agricultural sector that is God-given. We tend to shy away from taking those gigantic steps that will result in prosperity for our people.

‘’We are not exploiting our diversity for prosperity. We are at each other’s throats, arguing about unnecessary things, instead of thinking and doing for our people,” he said.

Mr Tinubu said this at an audience with members of the board and management of the Nigeria Economic Support Group (NESG) on Thursday in Abuja. 

He called for the urgent exploitation of Nigeria’s diversity for collective gain, with an eye on new think tanks in the agricultural sector and establishing a commodity exchange.

The president said he would continue to support a robust public-private partnership in the country for economic growth.

He also said his administration’s sustained, bold and coordinated reforms are anchored on a “strong adherence to accountability and transparency.”

The president gave the assurance to fully implement the eight priority reform areas under the Renewed Hope Agenda within the next three years.

The president said he was elected on a “no excuses” platform for renewed hope, adding that he would not accept excuses from anyone in delivering on his agenda.

“I don’t see why Nigeria will be so blessed with good soil and not have a commodity exchange. I don’t see why we have not been able to interrogate our real estate sector and propel it.

“I don’t see why we have not used consumer credit to build the purchasing power of our people and the capacity of our very own manufacturing sector,” the president said.

While commending the NESG for believing in the reforms of his administration, Mr Tinubu said the “bitter pill” must be administered to build a better future for the country.

The chairman of NESG, Olaniyi Yusuf, welcomed the various economic reforms announced by Mr Tinubu’s administration since assumption of office in May.

The NESG chairman pledged that the group would work with the newly inaugurated cabinet to achieve the eight-point agenda of the administration. 

(NAN)