Abuja, Nigeria—The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has called on all Nigerians, both at home and abroad, to stop “de-marketing” the country. Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, Umahi urged citizens to promote national unity, optimism, and patriotism.
The Minister decried what he described as a “growing culture of negativity and public condemnation” of Nigeria, expressing sadness over people “demarketing the country both outside and inside Nigeria, cursing without knowledge.”
End Entitlement, Embrace Hard Work
Umahi challenged the prevailing mindset among some Nigerians, particularly those who have lived abroad, highlighting a double standard in behavior.
“I wonder that when our people go outside the country, they suffer more; they pass through all kinds of humiliations and oppressions; they work sometimes for 19 hours, and they obey all the rules,” he stated. “But when they come here, they break all the rules. That is not good; let us have hope here.”
The Minister further argued that the potential for success is greater domestically: “This is the only country you can make 100 per cent doing a job, whereas you can’t make more than 10 per cent outside the country.” He emphasized the need for a “rethink” and urged citizens to put Nigeria first, be their brother’s keeper, and act with the fear of God.
On Tinubu’s Inherited Debt and Economic Reforms
Umahi praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership courage, noting his refusal to publicly complain about the significant challenges inherited by the administration.
As a former governor, Umahi said he was privy to the severity of the situation the Tinubu administration met, specifically citing the terrible burden of debt. He explained that a significant issue was the discovery that debt servicing was drawn from capital projects, which created a major problem for infrastructure development.
“So there have been a lot of debts that are kept, and these debts were not used for infrastructure development… what we inherited was so terrible. Everything became a priority,” he noted, adding that even the country’s fuel was “sold in advance.”
Despite the hurdles, Umahi maintained optimism: “It is a matter of courage, and that is why the president is not complaining, but we shall overcome it.”
He assured that the administration’s reforms are “breathing very well,” citing positive economic indices, including a reported drop in inflation, GDP growth of over 4.23 per cent, and a climb in foreign reserves of over 42 per cent.
“The worst is over, by the words of the president, and the darkest part of the morning is the dawn,” the Minister asserted. He concluded that the focus on infrastructure development would trickle down to the macroeconomy, ultimately curing the “seeming hunger” and leading to a “win-win for this nation.”
Umahi ended his appeal by encouraging a stronger work ethic: “I will suggest that our generation should also try to work even harder than our forefathers. Hard work pays; it is very, very important. Even the Bible professes that he that doesn’t work should not eat.”
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