Why Nigeria Must Prioritize Productivity, Security Reforms and Continuity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Policies for Sustainable Growth

By Comrade Robinson Akhenoba 

Nigeria stands at a critical point in its history where the choices made today will determine whether the nation achieves long-term prosperity or continues to struggle with recurring economic and security challenges. As public debates intensify over inflation, wages, insecurity, and governance, it is important for citizens to examine these issues through facts, economic realities, and measurable indicators rather than emotions, political sentiments, or social media narratives.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

One of the most popular discussions in recent years has been the demand for frequent increases in the minimum wage. While workers deserve fair compensation and improved living conditions, economic reality suggests that sustainable prosperity cannot be achieved simply by increasing salaries without corresponding increases in productivity and economic output. Nigeria, with a population exceeding 240 million people and a GDP estimated at approximately $330 billion, must first expand its productive capacity before expecting wage increases to translate into lasting improvements in living standards.

History offers valuable lessons. Several countries that relied heavily on wage increases and excessive monetary expansion without matching productivity growth eventually experienced severe inflation, currency depreciation, and economic instability. When more money enters the economy without a corresponding increase in goods and services, prices inevitably rise. The result is that workers who initially celebrated higher wages often find that their purchasing power has diminished as the cost of living catches up with and sometimes surpasses their increased earnings.

The real solution lies in productivity. Nations that have successfully improved living standards focused on expanding industries, supporting businesses, investing in infrastructure, improving education, promoting innovation, and creating an environment where economic growth generates sustainable wealth. Higher productivity leads to increased national income, stronger businesses, better wages, and greater employment opportunities. For Nigeria, reducing inflation, improving electricity supply, supporting manufacturing, encouraging agricultural expansion, lowering the cost of doing business, and attracting local and foreign investments should remain national priorities.

Economic growth is not driven by government alone. Citizens, entrepreneurs, professionals, artisans, farmers, and investors all play important roles in building a productive economy. A country cannot achieve prosperity if productivity remains stagnant while demands for increased consumption continue to rise. Sustainable wealth is created when individuals, businesses, and institutions contribute to expanding the economy's productive base.

Alongside economic concerns, insecurity remains one of the biggest challenges confronting Nigeria. However, discussions about security often become clouded by misinformation, exaggeration, and political propaganda. While there is no doubt that certain regions face serious security threats, it is inaccurate to portray the entire country as being under siege. Millions of Nigerians continue to work, trade, study, travel, and conduct business activities across various parts of the federation every day.

Acknowledging that some regions are relatively stable does not diminish the suffering of communities affected by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and violent crimes. Rather, it allows policymakers and citizens to focus on targeted solutions instead of generalized panic. Security challenges vary across regions and therefore require different approaches.

Community-based crimes such as burglary and petty theft can often be addressed through stronger local policing structures, neighborhood watch initiatives, and improved collaboration between residents and law enforcement agencies. More sophisticated crimes such as armed robbery, organized criminal networks, and ritual-related offenses require better intelligence gathering, modern equipment, and stronger investigative capacities within security agencies.

The challenges posed by kidnapping and banditry are more complex. Many criminal groups operate from difficult terrains and remote forests that require specialized security operations. For years, security experts have advocated for stronger forest security systems, enhanced surveillance capabilities, and closer cooperation between federal, state, and local security structures. The establishment of forest guards and the eventual implementation of state policing frameworks are among the reforms many analysts believe could significantly improve security outcomes across the country.

Such reforms, however, require time, resources, training, legislation, and institutional development. Security architecture cannot be transformed overnight. Nations that successfully improved internal security did so through years of investment, planning, recruitment, training, and modernization. The security challenges Nigeria faces today developed over decades and will require sustained commitment to overcome.

This is where those of us supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu makes our  argument for continuity. We believe that many of the reforms currently underway are foundational and require additional time to produce their full benefits. Changing direction midway through major reforms could delay progress and undermine gains already achieved.

The reforms in the foreign exchange market for example. Before recent policy changes, many businesses struggled to access foreign exchange, leading to uncertainty and inefficiencies. While the transition has been difficult, proponents argue that a more transparent and market-driven system is necessary for long-term economic stability, investment attraction, and sustainable growth.

The student loan programme is another initiative, an evidence of strategic investment in Nigeria's future. By expanding access to higher education financing, the programme seeks to equip young Nigerians with the skills and knowledge needed to contribute meaningfully to the economy. Education remains one of the strongest drivers of productivity and national development, making such investments critical for future prosperity.

Infrastructure development also forms a key part of our support for continuity. Across various states, road rehabilitation projects, transportation improvements, and energy sector reforms are being implemented with the objective of reducing business costs and improving economic efficiency. Infrastructure investments typically require years before their full economic impact becomes evident, which is why we argue that continuity is necessary to allow these projects to mature.

The performance of Nigeria's capital market has also attracted attention. Growth in market capitalization reflects increased investor confidence and provides businesses with greater access to capital for expansion. Stronger businesses create jobs, stimulate innovation, generate tax revenues, and contribute to overall economic growth. These developments demonstrate that reforms are beginning to strengthen key sectors of the economy.

Critics often argue that ordinary Nigerians have yet to fully feel the benefits of these reforms, but they must understand that economic restructuring is rarely painless and that significant reforms often involve short-term sacrifices before long-term gains become visible. Countries like Argentina, Venezuela, once tried to increase minimum wage that backfired, and that led to where difficult economic reforms eventually laid the foundation for sustained growth and prosperity.

The central question, therefore, is not whether challenges exist, they clearly do. The question is whether the policies being implemented today are capable of addressing those challenges over time.

Abandoning ongoing reforms before they mature would be counterproductive. Continuity provides the best opportunity to consolidate gains, strengthen institutions, deepen economic reforms, and complete security sector restructuring.

Ultimately, the success of any administration should be judged by measurable outcomes such as reduced inflation, increased investment, stronger infrastructure, improved security, greater educational opportunities, job creation, and sustained economic growth. These indicators provide a more reliable basis for evaluation than political rhetoric or social media trends.

Nigeria's journey toward prosperity will not be completed in a single year or election cycle. It requires patience, discipline, national unity, and policy consistency. 

The reforms already initiated represent the foundation upon which a more stable, secure, and prosperous Nigeria can be built. Our position is that with continued implementation, institutional strengthening, and strategic investments, the nation can overcome its current challenges and move steadily toward a future of greater opportunity and development for all Nigerians.

Comrade Robinson Akhenoba, Writer and Publisher, The Political Evangelist, Professional Teacher, Manager, Sports Administrator, Husband material and many more