Eshiorameh Sebastian in Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has successfully ended the “regimes of volatility and unpredictability” that once defined Nigeria’s economy. He stated that global economic uncertainties have compelled the government to act daringly with reforms that are now stabilising the nation.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition 2025, Mr Shettima said the ongoing reforms have inspired investor confidence and attracted commendation from independent observers. He cited recent upgrades by ratings agencies as proof of this positive trend.
“The world is taking note of the steady course the nation is maintaining,” the vice president said, pointing to Fitch’s upgrade of Nigeriaโs sovereign rating to B with a stable outlook and Moody’s lift of the nation’s issuer rating to B3 with a stable outlook. “What this Administration has achieved is to end the regimes of volatility and unpredictability that once defined our economy.”
Mr Shettima outlined the government’s next priority, which is to ensure the benefits of these macroeconomic improvements reach all citizens. “The phase before us now is to ensure that these macroeconomic gains trickle down to the people, from the kiosks of our neighbourhood traders to the boardrooms of our multinational corporations,” he told the audience.
He defended the administration’s bold policy shifts, stating, “We did what we have done because we can no longer apply 20th-century solutions to 21st-century problems.” The vice president also positioned digital innovation as central to Nigeria’s long-term stability and inclusive growth, aligning with the conference’s theme of โInnovation for a Sustainable Digital Future.โ
He insisted that Nigeria must move beyond superficial technological advances to build foundational solutions. “We need a digital ecosystem that works as seamlessly in Lagos as it does in Abuja, in Port Harcourt, in Kano, in Gusau, and across every corner of our nation,” Mr Shettima said. “The digital success we seek is one where the farmer in Bida can access real-time market data to sell his harvest at a fair price, where a young woman in Oguta can work remotely for a global company because she has connectivity and the skills to compete. That is the inclusive growth President Tinubu envisions.”
The vice president detailed a three-pillar strategy of “People, Infrastructure, and Policy” that the government is pursuing. He mentioned initiatives such as integrating digital literacy into school curricula and the 3 Million Technical Talent programme to build a pipeline of talent. On infrastructure, he pointed to projects aimed at ensuring high-speed connectivity across the country, and on policy, he highlighted the advanced stages of the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill.
“The success of our cashless reforms has positioned Nigeria as one of the most dynamic fintech ecosystems in the world,” Mr Shettima stated, expressing confidence that the new Bill would “unlock the GovTech revolution, an era of smarter governance, greater transparency, and inclusive service delivery.” He concluded by soliciting the support of the private sector, describing them as “the innovators, the disruptors, the dreamers who turn possibilities into progress.”
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