Tinubu Saved Nigeria From Collapse, Says Shettima

​ABUJA/LAGOS — Vice President Kashim Shettima has stoutly defended the sweeping economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, asserting that the bold decisions averted a catastrophic national collapse.

​Speaking in Lagos following a briefing with the President, Shettima emphasized that the administration inherited a deeply fragile economy—highlighted by critically low foreign reserves of roughly $3.9 billion, an amount insufficient to cover a single month’s oil imports.

​According to the Vice President, decisive interventions such as the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of multiple exchange rates were necessary prescriptions to steer the country away from total ruin.

​”We were on the road to Caracas. He saved our economy. He saved the nation from falling to pieces,” Shettima declared, urging citizens to show understanding and generosity toward the administration’s tough path.

​Addressing Public Hardship and Relief Interventions

​While acknowledging the severe economic pressure experienced by many Nigerians, Shettima struck an optimistic note, maintaining that durable solutions require resilience.

• ​Regional Interventions: The Vice President announced upcoming palliative measures, including the rollout of e-logistics, 10,600 electric tricycles, and 300 electric buses and taxis tailored for the Northeast to cushion transportation costs.

• ​Educational Support: He lauded the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a transformative “masterstroke” designed to widen access to tertiary education for students from underprivileged backgrounds.

​Leadership Continuity and 2027 Politics

​Addressing speculations surrounding the President’s recent overseas trip, Shettima dismissed claims of a governance vacuum, noting that technology enabled seamless, round-the-clock consultations.

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​”Advances in science and technology have made it possible to really have impactful leadership wherever one might find himself. We speak almost every other day,” he noted.

​With the political climate gradually heating up ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, Shettima assured the public that the executive arm remains entirely focused on executing its mandate, stressing that governance will not play second fiddle to campaign politics.