APC chieftain says Tinubu's reforms fail Nigerians despite macro gains
APC chieftain and founding father Osita Okechukwu said President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms have failed Nigerians, citing poor microeconomic indicators, during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday, October 12, 2026. He acknowledged the reforms performed well at the macroeconomic level but argued that high cost of living, declining purchasing power and significant unemployment persist despite Nigeria’s large youth population.
Okechukwu told Arise Television that "The economic reforms have done well at the macroeconomic level, but microeconomic indicators are very poor." He explained that the naira’s devaluation makes it difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to import machinery, while rising energy costs further stifle industrial growth. He said the neoliberal assumption that reforms would boost the private sector is undermined by these inhibiting factors, leaving small-scale and medium-scale industries performing poorly.
With SMEs struggling to afford machinery and energy expenses rising, will you reconsider business expansion plans, seek alternative financing, or adjust your household budget to cope with persistent inflation and job scarcity?