- Governor Soludo emphasizes Nigeria’s disruptive reset following fuel subsidy removal, calling for a new national infrastructure plan
- Soludo advocates for a productive social contract offering equal opportunity, addressing rising criminality and public service inefficiencies
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, says Nigeria is undergoing a fundamental and disruptive reset following the current administration’s removal of the fuel subsidy.
Speaking on Thursday at the 13th Convocation lecture of Veritas University, Abuja, themed “Let Us Make A New Deal for Nigeria,” Soludo highlighted the significance of recent economic reforms and the need for a fresh social contract.
“Hopefully, we have ended the debilitating scam called fuel subsidy, as well as the forex and electricity subsidies. We have entered a ‘muddling-through’ phase that we must navigate carefully,” Soludo said.
He emphasized the importance of designing a new national infrastructure plan, similar to the U.S. Marshall Plan for Europe post-World War II, to drive Nigeria’s development forward.
Soludo urged a shift away from subsidies that primarily benefitted urban elites, advocating for a productive social contract offering equal opportunity.
He expressed concern over the rise of criminality as a “new economy,” pointing to widespread issues such as banditry, kidnapping, and a growing drug crisis.
“Much of our public service is transactional rather than transformational, and it is increasingly difficult for people to render service unless it benefits them personally,” he noted.
He encouraged the graduating students and all Nigerians to contribute to reshaping the nation, advocating for a social contract that guarantees basic socio-economic rights.
“A new social contract with basic socio-economic rights is possible,” he affirmed, emphasizing the role of Veritas University graduates in creating a better Nigeria.