Work Minister Umahi to Nigerians: Stop Talking Bad About Our Country

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a passionate appeal to all Nigerians, both at home and abroad, urging them to stop “de-marketing” the country and instead embrace national unity, optimism, and patriotism.

Dependable NG reports that Umahi, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, lamented what he described as a growing culture of negativity and public condemnation of Nigeria. The Minister praised President Bola Tinubu’s “courageous leadership” for not publicly complaining about the “terrible economic situation” he inherited.

Umahi expressed deep sadness over people de-marketing Nigeria “both outside and inside,” noting that “a job is very easy when you are not the one doing it.” He urged a “rethink” and stressed the need for lasting treasures beyond this life, urging Nigerians to put the nation first and act with the fear of God.

The Minister criticized the hypocrisy of some Nigerians abroad: “I wonder that when our people go outside the country, they suffer more; they pass through all kinds of humiliations and oppression; they work sometimes for 19 hours, and they obey all the rules. But when they come here, they break all the rules. That is not good.”

He emphasized the immense potential at home, stating: “This is the only country you can make 100 per cent doing a job, whereas you can’t make more than 10 per cent outside the country.”

Umahi urged citizens to be optimistic and forward-looking, warning that approaching issues with bitterness and being unappreciative serves no one.

Defending Tinubu’s Economic Stance
The Minister lauded President Tinubu’s resilience in the face of the economic challenges inherited from the previous administration, suggesting that the President’s silence on the matter is a sign of leadership courage.

He revealed the complexity of the economic crisis, stating that the burden of debt was “so terrible,” with debt servicing being drawn from capital projects. “So there have been a lot of debts that are kept, and these debts were not used for infrastructure development; otherwise, it would have been a catalyst for development. So it is very important to know that what we inherited was so terrible,” he explained.

Umahi confidently asserted that the worst of the economic crisis is over, claiming that economic reforms are “breathing very well.” He pointed to positive indices, including a drop in inflation, a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth exceeding 4.23 per cent, and the foreign reserve climbing over 42 per cent. He concluded that infrastructure development would cure the “seeming hunger” by trickling down to the macroeconomy, making it a “win-win for this nation.”