Tinubu’s reforms bearing fruit across sectors, says Uzodimma
…cites improved reserves, lower inflation, student loan impact …blames communication gap for persistent public cynicism Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Tuesday declared that the sweeping institutional and economic
...cites improved reserves, lower inflation, student loan impact
...blames communication gap for persistent public cynicism
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Tuesday declared that the sweeping institutional and economic reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the outset of his administration are now yielding measurable results across key sectors of the economy.
Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), spoke at the opening of the PGF–Renewed Hope Ambassadors Strategic Summit at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
He said the reforms had not only begun to bear fruit but had also halted what he described as Nigeria’s drift toward economic and social disintegration prior to May 29, 2023.
According to him, a dispassionate comparison of economic indicators between the day President Tinubu assumed office and the present paints a clear picture of progress in macroeconomics, power, infrastructure and social services.
“In May 2023, our foreign reserves stood at $32 billion. By February this year, they had risen to $49 billion,” Uzodimma said.
He added that headline inflation, which stood at 22.4 per cent in May 2023, and food inflation at 24.6 per cent, had declined significantly by December 2025 to 15.15 per cent and 10.84 per cent respectively.
“The same positive trends are reflected in oil production figures, the new national minimum wage and the increased allocations shared at the Federation Account Allocation Committee,” he submitted.
The governor highlighted reforms in the power sector, particularly the policy shift allowing states to generate and distribute electricity, as a major structural change already stimulating economic activity at sub-national levels.
He also defended the administration’s tax reforms, dismissing criticism from what he described as “mischievous” elements.
“For the first time, Nigeria now operates a unified, modern, digitally administered tax system that protects the vulnerable, incentivises enterprise and aligns with global standards,” Uzodimma said.
He maintained that the tax overhaul was a far-reaching policy designed to benefit small businesses and low-income earners while creating an enabling environment for job creation.
On infrastructure, Uzodimma commended the President’s “aggressive and accelerated” delivery of road and rail projects across the six geopolitical zones, saying the administration had chosen sustainability over sentiment.
He further cited the establishment of the student loan scheme as direct evidence of the administration’s social intervention drive, disclosing that more than 1.5 million students had so far benefited from over N184 billion in interest-free loans disbursed under the programme.
Uzodimma explained that the summit was convened primarily to address what he termed a disconnect between macroeconomic gains and grassroots perception.
“Cynicism remains because the communication of reform outcomes has not matched the pace of the reforms themselves. The opposition has exploited this gap with relentless propaganda,” he said.
“The problem is not policy failure. The problem is a communication failure.”
He said participants at the summit would work to strengthen the party’s communication architecture at strategic levels and consolidate a unified messaging framework.
Advocating clearer role definitions within party structures, the governor recommended harmonising support groups aligned with President Tinubu to avoid conflicting narratives.
“We must not have different structures singing from different hymn sheets,” he cautioned.
Uzodimma assured the President that progressive governors were committed to securing his re-election in 2027 through a free and fair process, anchored on what he described as the tangible fruits of his reforms.
“Our unique selling point, will be performance”, he said.
