By Chesa Chesa
Senator Aliyu Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, arguing that only “an open enemy” would disregard the achievements recorded since the President assumed office.
Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, Wadada said key economic indicators reflected notable progress under the current administration, although he acknowledged that more work remained to be done.
He maintained that it would be unrealistic to overlook what he described as measurable improvements across critical sectors of the economy.
“But for anybody to sit down and wish away this administration, then that person is either ignorant, or not realistic, or an open enemy, because opposition is different from being an enemy,” said the senator who is fining to be the next Nasarawa State governor.
He pointed to improvements in Nigeria’s balance of payments, balance of trade, foreign reserves, exchange rate stability and the capital market as evidence that the government’s economic reforms were producing positive results.
According to him, the country’s foreign reserves have increased from below $30 billion at the start of the Tinubu administration to about $56–57 billion. He also credited the unification of the foreign exchange windows with improving the stability of the naira.
Wadada further cited ongoing infrastructure projects nationwide and the performance of the Nigerian capital market as additional indicators of economic progress.
Despite the gains, he stressed that significant challenges remained.
“There are glaring improvements, developments and growth in every sector, but that is not to say all is well. Much more needs to be done,” he said.
On Nasarawa State, the senator outlined his development blueprint, known as the HEARTS Agenda, which focuses on human capital development, energy and mineral resources, agriculture and the green economy, rural and urban development, trade and investment, and security.
He said education and healthcare would serve as the foundation of his human capital development programme, while the state’s abundant mineral resources and energy potential would be leveraged to drive industrialisation.
Wadada also commended the Tinubu administration for signing the Electricity Act, describing it as a landmark reform that enables states to generate electricity based on their comparative advantages.
He noted that Nasarawa has emerged as a major player in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry, hosting the country’s first and second lithium processing plants.
On agriculture, the senator said he intends to establish three agricultural hubs—one in each senatorial district—to harness the comparative advantages of each zone, increase agricultural output and create jobs.
He also pledged to build on the achievements of Governor Abdullahi Sule, whom he credited with enhancing Nasarawa’s profile through infrastructure development and the expansion of the mining sector.
