Mutfwang Urges Nigerians to Be Patient with Tinubu’s Reforms, Says Economy Was Near Collapse

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that the President inherited an economy burdened by longstanding fiscal and structural challenges when he assumed office in 2023.

Mutfwang said the economic difficulties facing the country did not begin under the current administration, adding that Nigerians should consider the state of the economy at the time Tinubu took over when assessing the impact of his policies.

The governor spoke on Monday while inaugurating the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections at the Government House, Rayfield, Jos.

He acknowledged the hardship caused by the economic adjustments but maintained that the reforms were necessary to address deep-rooted problems. He pointed to improvements in foreign reserves and fuel availability as signs of progress.

“Where did President Tinubu meet Nigeria in 2023? He met Nigeria tottering on the brink of collapse; Nigeria that could not service its external debts; Nigeria that would not even allow businesses outside the country to take their proceeds back home,” Mutfwang said.

He further claimed that the country’s external reserves had fallen to slightly above $3 billion before Tinubu assumed office but had since risen to more than $50 billion.

The inauguration also marked the beginning of campaign mobilisation for the re-election of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside Mutfwang, Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo and other APC candidates in Plateau State.

Mutfwang highlighted initiatives by his administration to reduce the economic burden on residents, including the introduction of Tin City Metro buses, the revival of rail services within Jos, a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees at state-owned tertiary institutions and a 300 per cent increase in student allowances. He also acknowledged federal student loan and scholarship programmes, which he said had benefited Plateau indigenes.

On security, the governor admitted that challenges persisted across the state but said his administration was working to protect lives and property. He disclosed that plans were underway to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities, while another batch of retrained Operation Rainbow personnel and at least 800 trained forest guards were expected to be deployed to vulnerable areas.

Making a case for another term, Mutfwang said governance was a continuous process and argued that his administration needed more time to consolidate ongoing projects and programmes.

“There is no government that ends everything. Every government is a relay. Our duty is not to make others look bad; it is to see how we can collectively make Plateau State look better,” he said.

He urged campaign council members to take the party’s message to communities across the state, stressing that electoral success depended on grassroots mobilisation. Earlier, campaign council Director-General Joseph Ari said the campaign would be factual, issue-based and peaceful. He also disclosed that 115 support groups had expressed support for the campaign.

Plateau APC Chairman Rufus Bature described the inauguration as an important step towards building a coordinated campaign structure. Ari also urged party supporters and residents to attend the planned November 14 visit by Tinubu, Shettima, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and other party leaders.