Economic Confidential, February, 2009

NEWS UPDATE

Nigeria’s Economy Stable ……. Senator Maitama Yusuf

Second Republic Internal Affairs Minister and three times Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf has described Nigeria’s economy as relatively stable.

Reacting to the currently world’s economic crisis which has in the last few weeks affected huge investments and claimed millions of jobs across Europe and other parts of the world, Senator Maitama Yusuf said the present administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua deserve commendation for putting in place measures that has ensured relative stability in the nation’s economy.

The present administration he observed has rather than retrench workers instead recalled those who were sacked by the previous government including officers of the Nigeria Police.

He noted that the government has also without prompting from any quota reduced the pump price of petrol in order to cushion the hardship being faced in the country and therefore appealed to petroleum marketers nationwide to support government’s effort by adjusting their pump price to the new order.

This he however explained will go a long way in reducing the cost of transportation of food items from the rural areas to urban areas thereby reducing prices of food stuff in the market.

“Nigeria is our country and we must all join hands to move the nation forward”, he added.

Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf who was also a former Minister of Commerce observed that the rule of law being propagated by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has brought sanity into the system as the Judiciary is now autonomous.

“You can now sue and be sued no matter your position in the society and government has on its part at various times demonstrated its commitment in upholding the rule of law by complying with court orders”.

He called on Nigerians to continue to pray for peace and stability in the country and at the same time work towards the survival of the nation’s nascent democracy.