No More Excuses: Tinubu’s Adviser Says Nation Must Invest Big or Stay Poor

Deliberate and consistent investment in infrastructure is the only path to reducing multidimensional poverty in Nigeria, the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, has said. According to iReporter Online, Fasua made this known during a live interview on a breakfast programme, where he emphasized that improving infrastructure remains Nigeria’s most effective antidote to deep-seated poverty.

Fasua argued that multidimensional poverty goes far beyond a lack of income. He described it as a condition defined by inadequate access to essential services such as education, healthcare, transportation, potable water, and basic amenities—issues that cannot be resolved without large-scale infrastructure spending. According to iReporter Online, the presidential adviser dismissed the notion that throwing money at people will yield long-term results, warning that such strategies have failed to address the structural roots of poverty.

Referencing data that over 130 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty, Fasua cautioned against interpreting the figures superficially. He pointed out that such statistics are not static but highlight the country’s urgent infrastructure deficit and the need for deliberate national planning.

“The only effective and documented way to address multidimensional poverty is through targeted infrastructure investments,” Fasua asserted. “Nigeria’s budget per capita is among the lowest globally, only marginally better than the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019. This is a national emergency we can no longer afford to ignore.”

According to iReporter Online, Fasua also challenged Nigerians to shift their mindset and stop dwelling solely on negative narratives. He called for a collective reimagining of a prosperous Nigeria, one where basic services are accessible, infrastructure is modernized, and the economy is inclusive for all citizens.

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