President Bola Tinubu assured Nigerians on Monday that despite the current challenges, the country’s ship will not sink, urging new cabinet members to stay focused and resilient in the face of inevitable criticism. At the swearing-in ceremony of seven new ministers, he emphasized that his administration is committed to tackling the nation’s economic and security challenges head-on. Tinubu acknowledged the rise in living costs but assured that the government is addressing the issues, including reducing debt servicing from 97% to 65% of revenue, while maintaining a strong commitment to its obligations. He also praised the National Assembly for swiftly confirming the new ministers and urged them to serve with dedication in the pursuit of economic recovery and prosperity.
Among the new appointees, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, now Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, expressed her commitment to the government’s foreign policy, focusing on democracy, development, and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area to enhance Nigeria’s economic potential. She highlighted the importance of Nigeria’s youth demographic and the vast opportunities within the diaspora. Similarly, Minister of Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole stressed the need for business climate reforms to optimize the AfCFTA and attract both domestic and foreign investments, while ensuring that trade policies align with fiscal goals to create productive jobs. Both ministers echoed the president’s vision of harnessing Nigeria’s full economic potential in the face of global challenges.