Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has said Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms are yielding positive results at the macro level but warned that insecurity and internal sabotage are slowing down the trickle-down impact on ordinary citizens.
Speaking with members of the Senate Press Corps in Abuja on Tuesday during his birthday interaction, the former Abia State governor noted that while key economic indicators are improving, challenges remain in translating those gains to the grassroots.
According to him, “the upper end of the reform is working,” citing increasing interest from foreign investors across regions including Asia, Europe, and North America.
He, however, stressed that insecurity continues to undermine progress at the lower levels of the economy.
“It is not because the President has not done what he is supposed to do, but because of insecurity and sabotage by some individuals,” Kalu said.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that the reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would yield long-term benefits, noting that economic transformations take time and cannot be achieved overnight.
Drawing comparisons with countries like China and Singapore, Kalu said Nigeria is still in the early phases of reform, urging patience among citizens.
“Reforms do not survive in one day. These are processes that take time. Nigeria is on the path, and we will get there,” he added.
He also maintained that despite the current economic challenges, the administration has made notable progress in stabilising the economy, which he described as being in a fragile state when the government took office in 2023.
Kalu further argued that the success of the reforms would depend not only on government policies but also on improved security and collective national commitment.
The senator’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over the impact of the administration’s economic policies, particularly as Nigerians continue to grapple with rising costs of living and security concerns across parts of the country.