{"id":3812,"date":"2026-10-29T23:45:51","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T23:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/29\/tinubu-defends-borrowing-plans-says-investments-ll-expand-opportunities-for-future-generations\/"},"modified":"2026-10-29T23:45:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T23:45:51","slug":"tinubu-defends-borrowing-plans-says-investments-ll-expand-opportunities-for-future-generations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/29\/tinubu-defends-borrowing-plans-says-investments-ll-expand-opportunities-for-future-generations\/","title":{"rendered":"Tinubu defends borrowing plans, says investments \u2018ll expand opportunities for future generations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img width=\"747\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Tinubu-defends-borrowing-plans-says-investments-\u2018ll-expand-opportunities-for-future-generations.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Tinubu defends borrowing plans, says investments \u2018ll expand opportunities for future generations\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Tinubu-defends-borrowing-plans-says-investments-\u2018ll-expand-opportunities-for-future-generations.jpg 747w, https:\/\/cdn.vanguardngr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/tinubu--300x247.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u200e<br \/>\u200eBy Johnbosco Agbakwuru<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eABUJA \u2014PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has responded to criticism, especially from opposition leaders, over new loans the country has accessed from international institutions and banks.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eIn an essay titled \u201cFrom reforms to delivery: Our infrastructure investment and growth strategy,\u201d to be published on Nigerian news platforms, President Tinubu wrote: \u201cThe real question is not how much we borrow, but what we build, what value we create and what future we leave behind.\u201d<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eHe identified the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Trans-Sahara Superhighway, electricity grid upgrades and the modernisation of key commercial ports in Lagos as major projects expected to strengthen Nigeria\u2019s productive capacity.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eThe President said the projects, alongside investments in healthcare, education and vocational training, would connect economic regions, reduce logistics costs, unlock agricultural and industrial potential and attract private investment.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eThe Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is expected to cut logistics costs along its corridor by 15 to 20 per cent. It could add up to two per cent to Nigeria\u2019s GDP through expanded trade, tourism, and industrial activity.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eThe project is also projected to generate about 100,000 direct jobs in construction and engineering, alongside more than 150,000 indirect jobs in logistics, materials and related services.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eAccording to him: \u201cWe are not simply building highways. We are opening economic corridors, connecting markets, unlocking industries and reshaping Nigeria\u2019s economic geography.\u201d<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eHe said the administration\u2019s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030 would require sustained infrastructure investment to support higher productivity, industrialisation and trade.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200e\u201cWe cannot build a USD 1 trillion economy with infrastructure designed for an economy a fraction of that size,\u201d Tinubu said.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eHe wrote that improving economic indicators and growing international investor confidence are creating opportunities for Nigeria to attract long-term investment and expand critical infrastructure.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eThe President said the economic reforms his administration introduced in May 2023 helped restore macroeconomic stability, strengthen public finances, and improve the country\u2019s standing in international financial markets.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eHe said a $1 trillion economy would not emerge by declaration alone but must be built through sustained investment, higher productivity, industrialisation, and trade, stressing that infrastructure development would be critical to achieving the target by 2030.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eIn an article titled \u201cFrom reforms to delivery: Our infrastructure investment and growth strategy,\u201d Tinubu said real Gross Domestic Product growth reached 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, while headline inflation fell to 14.63 per cent in September from 20.98 per cent a year earlier.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eHe also said gross external reserves rose to $55.1 billion as of October 9, 2026, including about $46 billion in net reserves, while the tax-to-GDP ratio increased to 12.5 per cent from seven per cent.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eTinubu said real Gross Domestic Product growth reached 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, while headline inflation fell to 14.63 per cent in September from 20.98 per cent a year earlier.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eThe President attributed the improvements to measures including petrol subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, tax reforms and coordinated efforts to tackle inflation.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200e\u201cThe decisions taken since 2023 were difficult but necessary,\u201d he said, referring to the reforms.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eTinubu said the gains have strengthened Nigeria\u2019s ability to attract investment and finance projects that support long-term economic growth.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200e\u201cConfidence has a price; our cost of borrowing is going down, and the country risk premium has drastically decreased,\u201d he said.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eThe President cited positive assessments by international credit rating agencies as evidence of improved confidence in the economy.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200e\u201cThese are not political endorsements; they are independent assessments by global rating agencies, index providers, regulators and investors, recognising stronger external reserves, improved macroeconomic management and greater financial credibility,\u201d Tinubu said.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eAccording to the President, the improved standing could help Nigeria attract more institutional investors, secure longer-term financing and reduce borrowing costs.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eHe said the administration was shifting public borrowing away from financing short-term fiscal pressures towards investments that would generate economic returns, create jobs and expand opportunities for future generations.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eThe President said the government was also pursuing longer-term financing arrangements to match the lifespan of infrastructure assets, reduce refinancing pressures and secure more competitive funding for productive investments.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200ePresident Tinubu said Nigeria must convert renewed international confidence into capital expenditure, completed infrastructure and lasting economic benefits for citizens.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eHe identified five priorities for the next phase of the Federal Executive Council\u2019s economic strategy: food affordability and energy price stability; budget harmonisation and fiscal discipline; completion of high-impact projects and investment in critical infrastructure; an improved economic policy framework and regulatory efficiency; and targeted household support alongside investment in human development.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eThe President stressed that the success of the current administration\u2019s economic schemes would be measured by completed projects, increased investment, employment generation and improved living standards.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200e\u201cSecuring financing is not the achievement. Completing the project, delivering value and improving the lives of Nigerians is the achievement,\u201d he said.<br \/>\u200e<br \/>\u200eHe added that the nation\u2019s economic ambition must be supported by responsible borrowing and investments that create lasting opportunities for future generations.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vanguardngr.com\/2026\/10\/tinubu-defends-borrowing-plans-says-investments-ll-expand-opportunities-for-future-generations\/\">Tinubu defends borrowing plans, says investments \u2018ll expand opportunities for future generations<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vanguardngr.com\/\">Vanguard News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Source: <\/p>\n<div class=\"nSourse\">Vanguard News<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u200e\u200eBy Johnbosco Agbakwuru\u200e\u200eABUJA \u2014PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has responded to criticism, especially from opposition leaders, over new loans the country has accessed from international institutions and banks.\u200e\u200eIn an essay titled \u201cFrom&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3813,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3812"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3812\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnigerianews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}