The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on chief executives of federal government agencies and parastatals to play an active role in achieving President Bola Tinubu's goal of building a $1 trillion Nigerian economy. Yilwatda made this appeal in Abuja while meeting with members of the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals at the APC National Secretariat. He emphasized that these CEOs have a dual responsibility to deploy their expertise for national development and support the administration that appointed them.
Yilwatda highlighted that many of the CEOs are political appointees who have earned the confidence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to their competence, experience, and commitment. He stressed that their appointments are not accidental, but rather a privilege that must be justified through effective service, performance, and commitment to the government's mandate. The APC chairman urged the CEOs to identify how their respective mandates, programs, and budgets can contribute to economic growth, productivity, job creation, investment, and national development.
According to Yilwatda, the $1 trillion economy target is a collective national project that requires the active participation of government institutions, the private sector, political stakeholders, and citizens. He emphasized that it should not be regarded as the responsibility of a single ministry or agency. The APC chairman also stressed the need for government agencies to communicate their achievements more effectively, noting that significant interventions are taking place across the country but are often not adequately understood by Nigerians.
Yilwatda noted that the CEOs are well-positioned to bridge the information gap because their agencies implement programs and projects that directly affect citizens. He urged them to use their networks and grassroots connections to explain government policies, reforms, and interventions to Nigerians. The APC chairman highlighted the importance of clear, consistent, and credible communication of achievements, stating that they do not speak for themselves.
The APC chairman also highlighted infrastructure investments being undertaken by the Tinubu administration, including deep seaports, transportation networks, rail expansion, energy infrastructure, logistics corridors, and the coastal highway project. These projects aim to improve connectivity, reduce the cost of moving goods and services, attract investment, and strengthen Nigeria's position as a major trade and economic hub in West and Central Africa.
Yilwatda linked reforms in the energy sector to the administration's broader objective of increasing power generation, expanding access to electricity, and creating an environment for industrial growth and private-sector investment. He emphasized that these initiatives are not isolated projects, but rather components of a broader strategy aimed at creating jobs, attracting investment, increasing productivity, and strengthening Nigeria's economic competitiveness.
The meeting with the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals is part of Yilwatda's efforts to engage with key stakeholders and promote the APC's vision for Nigeria's economic development. The APC chairman's call to action for the CEOs is expected to contribute to the realization of President Tinubu's vision of a $1 trillion Nigerian economy.
Key points
- APC Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda urges federal agency CEOs to contribute to President Bola Tinubu's vision of a $1 trillion Nigerian economy.
- Yilwatda emphasizes the need for effective communication of government achievements to Nigerians.
- The Tinubu administration's infrastructure investments aim to improve connectivity and strengthen Nigeria's economic competitiveness.
