Minister of information and national orientation Mohammed Idris on Tuesday said Nigeria is not a failed state just because it accepted 25,000 tonnes of wheat from war-torn Ukraine.
Ukraine, despite its war with Russia, recently made the donation to assist 1.3 million vulnerable, crisis-affected people in north-east Nigeria.
Several persons including former presidential candidate Peter Obi said it was a “national disgrace” for Nigeria.
Reacting, however, at an event organised by the Leadership Group, publishers of Leadership Newspapers, Mr Idris said, “Egypt gets about 60 per cent of its grains from Ukraine. The fact that Egypt gets about 60 per cent of its grains from Ukraine does not make it a failed state.”
“The fact that we are having challenges at the moment does not make Nigeria a failed state.
Criticism over support for Tinubu feels like honey to me now – Toyin Abraham
Tinubu should stop govt officials from travelling abroad for one year – Murray-Bruce
“Therefore, accepting grains from Ukraine does not make Nigeria or Egypt failed countries.
“It is a normal thing, because countries exist to depend on one another,’’ the minister said at the Leadership Annual Conference and Award 2023 on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to the minister, it is true that Nigeria is facing some challenges and President Bola Tinubu is aware of this and he does not shy away from it.
“Nigerians voted for Tinubu with the deeper understanding and conviction that he has the capacity to turn things around for the better; and that is what he is doing.
“Some of the decisions he has taken were to ensure that Nigeria finds its place in the comity of nations.
“The decisions include removal of fuel subsidy and addressing the issue of foreign exchange and many others.
“In spite of the current challenges, the economic growth of Nigeria is on track and has continued to improve,’’ Idris said.
He explained that fuel subsidy removal was a bold step in the right direction and urged Nigerians to support the president as the country would soon begin to reap the benefits.
