Jonathan made a difference, says Okonjo-Iweala

•Lists the dangers of putting the economy in a bad light. •Warns against attempts to rewrite history

Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration would leave the new government with “some solid economic legacy”.

Despite the obvious economic challenges, she described the accusations about the ruin of the economy as completely untrue, claiming that significant achievements in several sectors of the economy prove the quality of operations.

“We cannot deny the fact that the Jonathan administration, despite the challenges posed by the 50% drop in oil prices, has made a clear and measurable difference in many important areas, and anyone who claims that nothing has been done and nothing is being done is left in the lurch. so much, it is very unfair to the facts and history,” Okonjo-Iweala told journalists from a television station in Abuja.

“Attempts to rewrite history will not last. You can’t just wipe the slate clean for political reasons. We are not perfect, but no one can take away from us the fact that we leave a good legacy.

She listed the achievements of the Federal Government over the last four years, including the agricultural sector, which saw an increase in food production, which had a positive impact on food prices; “the program of the National Industrial Revolution and the Automotive Policy, the implementation of which led to the opening of factories for the production and assembly of cars for the first time in the country; impressive increase in cement production thanks to positive government policy; Nigeria is currently a net exporter of cement, creating about 1.4 million jobs annually out of the 1.8 million needed.

“Various job creation and improvement programs such as Youwin, where government-sponsored and trained young entrepreneurs have created over 27,000 jobs for other youth; graduate internship program; the creation of the NMRC to help create a mortgage market and provide affordable housing to Nigerians; the recently established Development Bank of Nigeria, which will help achieve strong small business growth by providing SMEs, for the first time in recent memory, with affordable interest-bearing loans for periods of up to 10 years.”

Another achievement, according to the Minister of Finance, is support for creative industries, which helped strengthen the potential of screenwriters, producers, directors and other film industry specialists, which in turn led to the production of higher quality films and the creation of more jobs.

Okonjo-Iweala also advised politicians and opinion leaders “not to criticize the economy as negative and unfactual comments about the economy may have a negative impact on the economy, exchange rate and stock market and reduce investor confidence.”

“These negative and baseless comments are not wise because they could lead to what we do not want for the economy. There is nothing wrong with factual assessments of the economy; I have always told Nigerians the truth about the economy. However, radical and negative statements are not in the country’s interest.

“Claims by some figures about the economy collapsing are not only incorrect, but also potentially dangerous.”