This Nigerian Ship Will Not Sink, Tinubu Reassures, Swears in Seven New Ministers

*Tells new cabinet members to expect criticisms, abuses but to remain focused 

*Says he’s stopped plundering of nation’s resources 

*Vows to push profiteers, smugglers out of business 

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, reassured the Nigerian people that the nation’s current ship would not sink in spite of the current challenges.
He however told the seven new ministers just joining his cabinet that Nigerians would criticise and possibly abuse them but that they should remain focused and not be distracted.
The president  spoke yesterday at the swearing-in of the seven new ministers at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
He said, “We are not going to run away from our responsibility, we are going to face it and we have been facing it head-on.
“With you as a member of this team,  I am proud and honoured that I am leading you and we will lead you to success and prosperity. All I can say is welcome onboard, this ship will not sink.”
Facing the new ministers, he said, “You will be part  of criticisms and abuses, don’t worry. Stay focused, stay resilient. Your time  will come with the history of growth and prosperity for this country.”
Tinubu also said his government had stopped scavengers of the nation’s resources and would completely do the same thing to profiteers and smugglers across the country.
“It is my joy and honour to be part of you to be responsible for over 200 million people in this county. We have  taken  the bull by the horn. We have stopped the scavengers. We are going to stop completely the profiteers and smugglers of our resources across the country,” he said.
The president said he was not oblivious of the fact that the cost of living had gone up, and that the present situation called for very serious commitment.
According to him, his administration would not run away from the challenges and responsibilities, and assured the people that he would face them head-on.
He commended the National Assembly for diligently and expeditiously living up to expectations by performing its constitutional duty of screening and confirming the ministers on record time.
While congratulating the new ministers, the president said, “The moment is challenging, the present situation calls for a very serious commitment. Yours is a duty to serve and that is what you’ve got to do.
“I really appreciate the fact that you have taken the oath of office and ready to serve your nation at the time we are facing the challenges of economic growth and other items like security challenges and others.
“It is not easy to find just the unique people that will surrender their life, freedoms and other responsibility to serve their nation anytime in this time of challenges.
“I am sincerely happy that you have done that and that you are here today to be part of a very committed team of Nigerians who have been working tirelessly since 17 months ago that we assumed the responsibility of governing this country, you are called upon to join the team to rescue this country.
“Service is the hallmark of this human endeavour, you are being called upon to serve. Economic recovery is on the horizon. We have a good path to realise our dreams and it is not just only for us, it is for our children and grandchildren.”
He said despite the challenges the country was facing, the administration was on the right track on the job of re-engineering and retooling the economic path of the nation.
“Yes, cost of living has gone up, I recognise that and we have satisfied the obligation of paying a new minimum wage across the board,” he said.
President Tinubu said it was a challenge when the country was servicing its debt with 97 per cent  of its revenue, pointing out that debt servicing has been brought down to 65 per cent and it has not defaulted in paying or meeting all its obligations both foreign and domestic.
He added that economic challenges were not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that neighbouring countries and countries across the globe were facing the same challenges.

“In fact, there’s a lot of crime in Europe and America. What pandemic has brought to the economies of the world but we are navigating through this and we are working hard.”

Speaking with newsmen after being sworn in, the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,  Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu,  expressed her full commitment to the foreign policy thrust of President Tinubu’s government.

The wife of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was among the seven new ministers that were administered with the oath of office by President Tinubu at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Bianca Ojukwu, a former “Most Beautiful Girl”  in Nigeria, said Nigeria would be leveraging on the African Continental Free Trade Area to encourage and harness its economic potentials.

Asked what she would be bringing to the table based on the fact that she had served as Ambassador before, she promised to strengthen democratic institutions all over Africa.

“In this respect, I am fully committed to keying into the foreign policy thrust of this government. The President has actually made things much easier by building the foreign policy thrust of his administration.

“The 4Ds comprise of democracy, development, demographic engagement, and diaspora collaboration. We must leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area to harness our economic potentials.”

The minister also said she would be looking at the nation’s demography, adding, “we have a huge youth population in Nigeria. 70 per cent of the population is under the age of 43, so that’s a huge demography.

“We intend in this administration to leverage on the creative potentials, on the skills on the huge capital that these young people have to bring to the country, and of course the diaspora.

“We have a diaspora that remits annually, $22 billion, we have a Diaspora that is doing so well all over the world, and if we can partner them and ensure that we bring them into the administration’s initiatives and use them also to forge strategic partnerships with financial institutions all over the world, that will in no small way enhance the workings on the service delivery for the Foreign Minister.

“And of course, ensuring that consular services abroad are much more effective, and our citizens abroad are much happier with what they are receiving, and get that sense that their government truly cares for their welfare. Thank you very much.”

Minister of Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, echoed similar sentiments regarding Nigeria’s economic potential.

She said, “For about the last nine years, I have been working on business climate reforms,” stressing the need to optimise the AfCFTA for Nigerian businesses and ensure that both domestic and foreign investments are retained.

“We need productive jobs that deliver value for Nigerians,” she emphasised.

She also highlighted the importance of aligning trade agenda with monetary and fiscal policies, saying, “this is significant and imperative; we will prioritize these in the short term.”