Nwadishi stressed the importance of repositioning the extractive industry as a priority for the incoming administration. She urged Tinubu to address issues such as Nigeria's high unemployment rate, the country's indebtedness, and the activities of illegal miners in the solid mineral sector. Nwadishi called for a blueprint that effectively utilises the country's solid mineral resources and ensures that Nigeria benefits from its partnerships with China and India in the extractive sector.
The Executive Director also emphasised the need to strengthen community participation in the extractive industry and to ensure the effective implementation of the recently passed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Nwadishi highlighted the critical importance of addressing the prevailing security challenges in the country and regaining the trust of Nigerians.
Additionally, Nwadishi highlighted the need to reverse the current inflation rate and tackle multi-dimensional poverty in the country. She emphasised the importance of addressing these pressing economic issues to ensure the overall well-being and prosperity of the Nigerian people.
In her conversation with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nwadishi expressed her support for the removal of subsidy but emphasised that it should not be done immediately. She believed that subsidy was intended to benefit the commonwealth of the country, but unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. With four refineries capable of producing 445,000 barrels per day, Nwadishi highlighted the potential for excess petrol if the refining process was optimised.
The Executive Director stressed the need for the incoming administration to prioritise the extractive industry, referring to it as the "golden goose" that lays the golden egg for Nigeria's economy. She called for a comprehensive approach to building the economy and addressing the country's debts. While acknowledging the financial crisis, Nwadishi emphasised the importance of finding ways to block loopholes, including subsidies, in order to mitigate the need for excessive borrowing.
Nwadishi directed her attention to the solid mineral sector, urging Tinubu to develop the sector and address the activities of illegal miners. She also emphasised the need for a strategic blueprint in the relationship with China and India to ensure that Nigeria benefits from the extraction of solid minerals.
Community participation was another aspect highlighted by Nwadishi, emphasising the importance of involving local communities in the extractive industry. She stressed the need for the effective implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which recently became law, to ensure transparency and accountability in the sector.
Addressing the prevailing security challenges in Nigeria was also a priority for Nwadishi. She expressed concern about the skyrocketing level of insecurity in the country and emphasised the need to restore trust among the Nigerian population.
In terms of the economy, Nwadishi called for measures to reverse the current inflation rate and bring it back to single digits. She also highlighted the issue of multi-dimensional poverty, stressing the importance of addressing poverty from various angles to uplift the lives of Nigerians.
As the President-elect prepares to assume office, the Centre for Transparency Advocacy has presented these key priorities and recommendations to drive economic development, promote transparency in the extractive industry, and address critical challenges facing the nation. It remains to be seen how the incoming administration will respond to these calls and implement strategies to achieve these goals. (NAN)