Dr Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa, a former PDP presidential aspirant, has said President Bola Tinubu inherited a near-bankrupt nation.
In an interview with NAN in Lagos, he called on Nigerians to be patient with President Tinubu.
Tafawa-Balewa emphasized that rescuing a nation from the brink of collapse is always a challenging task.
He commended the President for trying hard to put things right but urged him to do more to address Nigeria’s numerous challenges.
To reposition the country, Tafawa-Balewa advised Tinubu to reduce the cost of governance and free up resources for development.
He also suggested strengthening the cabinet with technocrats who can help actualize Tinubu’s development agenda.
Tafawa-Balewa noted that Tinubu needs to “move with the times” and appoint people who are familiar with new technologies to manage various ministries.
He criticized the large number of ministries, saying it leads to unnecessary expenditure.
“We just need to be able to slim down the number of ministers,” Tafawa-Balewa added.
He also emphasized the need for improved security to address kidnappings, insurgency, and other threats.
Tafawa-Balewa, a Consultant Nuclear Chemist, highlighted the importance of security in improving food production.
“We have to improve our security so that our farmers can go to the farms,” he said.
He also discussed the use of technology for food preservation and distribution, citing Nigeria’s gamma radiation facility as an example.
“We have one of the largest gamma radiation facilities in the world… but we are not using it,” he lamented.
Tafawa-Balewa’s comments is coming as Nigerians continue to face various challenges, including economic hardship and insecurity.
Peoplesmind
