Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on Nigerian youths, particularly those in the northern region, to support the economic reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Akpabio made the appeal on Sunday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly at his residence.
According to a statement by the spokesperson of the assembly, Ibrahim Dan-Musa, the Senate President described the removal of fuel subsidy and the reforms in the foreign exchange market as difficult but necessary steps towards restructuring the Nigerian economy.
Akpabio said the reforms had moved beyond their initial phase of disruption and were beginning to generate what he described as encouraging economic outcomes.
He argued that the policies were designed to address longstanding structural problems and create conditions for sustainable economic growth.
“While these measures initially posed challenges, they were the surgical procedures needed to redirect resources into healthcare, education, and infrastructure,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President also pointed to improved revenue generation, growing investor confidence and renewed interest from international partners as some of the early indicators of progress from the reforms.
He urged young Nigerians to become more actively involved in governance and national development, stressing that youths should see themselves as participants in the country’s present rather than simply leaders of the future.
“You are architects of today, not just leaders of tomorrow,” he told the delegation.
Akpabio further said the 10th National Assembly was pursuing measures aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law.
He encouraged young people to engage constructively with the reform process while also being cautious about misinformation.
“Your innovation and engagement are the lifeblood of these reforms,” he said, urging youths to become critical consumers of information and participate in constructive national dialogue.
The Senate President warned that abandoning the reform programme before its full consolidation could jeopardise whatever gains had been achieved so far.
His comments come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the impact and sustainability of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies expected to remain major issues in the political debate.
Meanwhile, Dan-Musa commended Akpabio for what he described as his efforts to promote greater political understanding and cooperation between northern and southern Nigeria.
He praised the Senate President’s accessibility and commitment to national development, saying his engagement had helped strengthen trust across regional lines.
The Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly pledged to mobilise its grassroots structures to educate Nigerians about the government’s economic policies and what it described as their potential long-term benefits.
Dan-Musa also stressed the importance of placing national unity above regional and sectional interests.
The group said it would undertake awareness campaigns, particularly in rural communities, to improve public understanding of the government’s economic measures and counter misinformation surrounding the reforms.
