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- I can’t fail with private sector behind me – Tinubu
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Chief Executive Officer, Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has thanked President Bola Tinubu for improving the ease of doing business in the country.
According to him, this is why Air Peace in reducing the cost of air tickets to London.
He charged business owners and manufacturers to work towards bringing down the cost of products and services.
“President Tinubu is thinking of the Nigeria of the future. The ease of doing business is coming back gradually. I can attest to that in the aviation sector because of the people you appointed to head that sector.
“I can also attest to what our High Commission in the United Kingdom did in making Air Peace flights into Gatwick Airport a possibility,’’ he said.
Onyema spoke in Abuja during Iftar with the president and members of the Nigerian business community on Thursday, according to a a statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, Ajuri Ngelale.
Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, on his part assured that the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Nigeria is solidly behind the Tinubu administration.
He said Tinubu’s transformation journey to turn around the economy and businesses is appropriate for the country.
“We appreciate what you are doing. We know the journey will not be smooth, but given the will, we will get to the promised land,” Elumelu said.
“We admire your decisiveness, and we appreciate what you are doing. You are extremely passionate about taking Nigeria to the promised land.
“On behalf of the OPS, we want to assure you that we are 100 percent with you. We have engaged with your ministers and associates; we share ideas, and we support them. We know that under your leadership, you have the ability to heal Nigeria permanently.”
Pharmacist and founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Company, Stella Okoli, urged the president to look into providing more support for the pharmaceutical industry in the country to make it self-sufficient and self-financing.
In his remarks, Tinubu expressed gratitude to the business community for their support and pledged to engage with them more frequently.
He said Nigeria’s economy is at a turning point and will require the steadfast support of the private sector for sustained growth and prosperity.
“I would have summoned you before now, not during Ramadan, because you are a very valuable part of my constituency,” the president said.
“There is no driver of the economy that is bigger than the private sector. If the private sector is not flourishing, there is no growth, no prosperity, no employment or development. No matter how flowery the speeches are, not even a mushroom will grow.
“Thank you for persevering. We are at a turning point in our economy. I do not have to do a quadratic equation to illustrate all of that to you. I just want to appreciate you for your endurance and perseverance.”
Sharing insights from his visit to the New York Stock Exchange in 2023, the president said he appealed to the investors to consider Nigeria as a prime investment destination.
He noted Nigeria’s self-belief and determination to drive economic transformation from within, adding that Nigeria is a self-believer and can always deliver on its own.
Tinubu reiterated his commitment to fulfilling his mandate, emphasising that he cannot afford to underperform, given the trust placed in him by the electorates.
“I have no reason to underperform as the elected President of the country because I campaigned for the job.
“I cannot complain about the job. I appreciate the gesture, and what you have told me this evening is very inspiring. Cut the costs. Fix the bends. Summon courage. Save the money, but push the economy. We will be there.There are some countries that have failed. There are some countries that have succeeded. In our time, in my time, all of us must work together to succeed. Thank you very much,” he said.
