ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on Northern youths to support the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the policies are beginning to produce positive results.
Akpabio said abandoning the reforms before they were fully consolidated could jeopardise the gains already being recorded and reverse efforts to reposition the Nigerian economy.
Punch reports that he made the call on Sunday when he received a delegation of the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly at his residence in Abuja.
The Senate President said the removal of fuel subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market, though initially difficult for Nigerians, were necessary to address longstanding structural problems in the economy.
According to him, the measures had now crossed what he described as a critical threshold, with improved revenue collection, increased investor confidence and renewed interest from international partners emerging as some of the early indicators.
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“I stand before you not merely as a politician, but as a public servant committed to the prosperity of our nation, and particularly this vital region.
“The reforms initiated by President Tinubu are not abstract theories; they are concrete, courageous actions designed to dismantle long-standing structural bottlenecks and unlock Nigeria’s vast potential,” Akpabio said.
He argued that the removal of subsidy had enabled the government to redirect resources that were previously committed to subsidising fuel towards sectors such as healthcare, education and infrastructure.
“While these measures initially posed challenges, they were the surgical procedures needed to redirect resources into healthcare, education, and infrastructure,” he said.
Akpabio also urged young Nigerians, particularly those in the North, to become more actively involved in governance and national development instead of waiting for political leadership opportunities in the future.
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“You are architects of today, not just leaders of tomorrow,” the Senate President told the youths.
He said the 10th National Assembly was also pursuing measures designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and the rule of law, urging young Nigerians to contribute ideas and engage constructively with the reform process.
“Your innovation and engagement are the lifeblood of these reforms,” he said.
“We urge you to be critical consumers of information and to engage in constructive dialogue.”
Akpabio’s comments come amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the performance and sustainability of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies expected to remain central to political campaigns and public debate.
Earlier, spokesperson for the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Musa, commended Akpabio for what he described as his efforts to promote political understanding between the northern and southern parts of the country.
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“We commend the Senate President for his accessibility and his unwavering dedication to the Nigerian project,” Dan-Musa said.
He added that Akpabio’s engagement had helped to strengthen trust and demonstrated that national leadership should rise above ethnic and geographical considerations.
The assembly pledged to mobilise support at the grassroots through awareness campaigns aimed at explaining the Federal Government’s economic policies to Nigerians, particularly those in rural communities.
Dan-Musa said the initiative was intended to counter misinformation and improve public understanding of the reforms.
He also called for national unity to remain above regional interests, saying the country’s peace and stability should take precedence over sectional demands.
“No regional sentiment can take precedence over the sovereignty and peace of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.