Professor Anthony Kila, Director-General of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies, has shared his thoughts on President Bola Tinubu’s recent New Year speech and the nation’s state as Nigeria moves into 2025.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Kila praised the president’s efforts to inspire hope for the new year, noting, “I think the speech was a good speech.”
He highlighted the president’s attempt to foster unity and optimism, adding that the emphasis on a better year ahead resonated with him.
One of the key aspects of the speech that stood out to Kila was Tinubu’s bold, clear targets for the economy.
“For once, there were some clear deadlines, again, rather audacious deadlines,” he observed.
The president’s commitment to halving the inflation rate was noted as a particularly clear and challenging goal. Kila admitted that while the target is ambitious, the clarity with which it was presented is commendable.
However, Kila also felt that some crucial elements were missing from the speech. While the president acknowledged the ongoing pain of the Nigerian people, Kila believes it was not emphasised enough. Furthermore, he expressed disappointment that the speech did not address some of the government’s errors from the previous year.
“The speech in its boldness and its confidence did not accept some errors and flaws of last year,” Kila noted.
Despite some reservations, Kila defended the speech, asserting that it was better than many of the commentaries written in response to it.
Turning to the topic of President Tinubu being named THISDAY’s Man of the Year, Kila emphasised that the title does not necessarily indicate the best person in the country.
“Choosing somebody as Man of the Year does not mean the person is the best person in the country,” Kila explained. “What it means is that they’ve had impact in the story of that country.”
Addressing concerns raised regarding the state of agriculture in Nigeria, Kila remained optimistic. While acknowledging the fears of farmers, he believes their concerns should motivate the government to act. He mentioned that their concerns should be a motivation to take necessary actions, such as securing farmland, even if it requires deploying security. He also emphasised the importance of financing the agricultural sector and ensuring high-quality food production.
On another note, the professor called for a redefinition of the government’s role and responsibilities.
He suggested, “The government should go into a room and redefine its position in governance and the country, simplify all it needs to do and then move from there.
“The government should do as much as it can to ensure human capital development.”
He also emphasised the need for better energy policies, urging the government to make energy both more available and affordable.
Frances Ibiefo
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