Chief Uche Nwosu
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Uche Nwosu, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), for what he described as notable improvements in national security and early gains from ongoing economic reforms.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Nwosu said recent military operations have significantly weakened banditry, insurgency and kidnapping across several parts of the country, restoring public confidence and improving safety on major highways.
He attributed the progress to what he called the appointment of competent professionals into sensitive positions, particularly the choice of a retired senior military officer as Minister of Defence.
According to him, Musa’s background and operational experience have strengthened Nigeria’s security architecture, allowing for more decisive and proactive military actions against criminal groups.
“The difference is clear. This is no longer a system driven only by briefings. The Defence Minister understands strategy, terrain and operations, and that is why we are seeing concrete results,” Nwosu said.
He noted that sustained offensives have forced bandits out of their strongholds in several flashpoints, adding that Nigerians were increasingly travelling by road during the festive season with fewer reported cases of abductions.
Nwosu dismissed calls for dialogue with bandits, insisting that criminal groups responsible for mass killings and kidnappings should not be granted concessions.
On the economy, the APC chieftain acknowledged the hardship caused by rising living costs but said recent reductions in food prices offered some relief. He observed that the price of a bag of rice, which previously sold for between ₦95,000 and ₦100,000, had dropped to about ₦45,000–₦55,000 in many markets, with similar declines recorded for beans, millet and groundnuts.
He attributed the development to improved security and government interventions in agriculture, urging the Federal Government to further support farmers to boost food production and stabilise prices.
“With sustained security and proper support for agriculture, Nigeria has the potential to become a major food hub on the continent,” he said.
Nwosu also welcomed recent developments in the petroleum sector, including increased domestic refining capacity, describing local refining as a long-term solution to fuel scarcity and price volatility.
“It makes more sense to refine our crude locally than export it and import refined products at huge costs. Domestic refining will eventually stabilise fuel prices and strengthen the economy,” he said.
However, the APC chieftain called on President Tinubu to carefully review ongoing tax law reforms, warning that excessive tax burdens on small and medium-scale enterprises could stifle business growth.
While supporting tax reforms in principle, Nwosu urged the government to place greater responsibility on large corporations rather than small businesses already struggling under current economic pressures.
“A balanced tax system that protects small businesses will encourage growth, create jobs and ease hardship for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.