By Kelvin Alohan
President Bola Tinubu has said his administration will harness Nigeria’s abundant gas resources to power new industries, revive manufacturing and create jobs.
Tinubu stated this on Thursday in his Independence Day address to the nation, marking Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary.
The president said job creation, enterprise development and industrial growth remained central to the administration’s economic policies, noting that Nigeria’s natural resources must be converted into greater economic opportunities for citizens.
“We will use our gas to power new industries,” he said.
Tinubu said the Federal Government would support businesses seeking to revive factories in the country’s industrial centres, while providing Nigerian enterprises with the infrastructure and financing needed to expand their operations.
According to him, the measures are designed to transform Nigeria’s large youthful population into a productive workforce and an engine of economic growth.
He also said the country’s economy had entered a period of renewed stability, with both the oil and non-oil sectors contributing to growth.
“Three and a half years later, the evidence that Nigeria’s economic outlook has improved is undeniable. Our economy has grown by more than four per cent this year.
“Both oil and non-oil sectors have contributed to the renewed period of stable growth,” Tinubu said.
The president further stated that oil theft had declined, while the country’s foreign reserves had been rebuilt and the foreign exchange market stabilised.
He attributed the developments to the administration’s economic reforms, which he said had strengthened Nigeria’s resilience and created a foundation for sustained growth.
Tinubu said the government was now focused on moving the country beyond economic reforms into an era of prosperity by expanding productive activities and supporting businesses.
He said the use of gas to power industries would complement efforts to revive manufacturing, boost production and deepen industrialisation across the country.
“I want to see more Nigerians making things. I want to see more Nigerian farms feeding our cities and supplying our factories.
“I want to see Nigerian businesses selling Nigerian goods to the whole world,” he said.
The president added that the government would continue investing in infrastructure and skills development while implementing policies to enable businesses to grow and create more productive opportunities for Nigerians.