President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned that poor economic planning remains a serious threat to Nigeria’s fast-growing population. He said urgent steps must be taken to restructure and diversify the economy to avoid future crises.
The President made this known on Wednesday through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the 2025 Taraba State International Investment Summit (TARAVEST) in Jalingo.
In his remarks, Tinubu stressed that with Nigeria’s rising population, the country must move quickly to reshape its economic strategies. He noted that agriculture and solid minerals—particularly in resource-rich states like Taraba—must be fully harnessed to secure the country’s economic future.
“The growing population of our country demands an immediate reshaping of the economy,” he said. “We need to diversify and harness our agricultural potential. States like Taraba are blessed with abundant resources, but they remain largely untapped.”
Shettima added that Nigeria must move beyond outdated farming methods and fully embrace modern agriculture and mining for job creation and wealth generation.
“Agriculture is beyond the use of hoes. The wealth in Taraba is too vast to be reduced to mere statistics. The mining sector also needs to evolve and attract serious investment,” he said.
The Vice President commended Governor Agbu Kefas for organizing the summit, noting that such events play a crucial role in drawing attention to investment opportunities in the state. He reaffirmed that President Tinubu’s administration remains committed to supporting local investments that promote economic growth and unity.
Speaking earlier at the summit, Governor Kefas said the goal of TARAVEST is to attract both local and international investors into key sectors of the state’s economy, particularly agriculture and mining. He said Taraba has the potential to become a major contributor to Nigeria’s economic development if properly developed.
Other dignitaries who spoke at the event included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, business tycoon Aliko Dangote, and philanthropist Tony Elumelu. They all highlighted the importance of encouraging domestic investment and creating enabling environments for economic transformation.
They also highlighted the need for peace and unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups as a key factor in attracting and sustaining investment across the country.
The summit ended with calls for urgent reforms in economic planning, infrastructure, and policy support to fully unlock the potential of Nigeria’s vast natural and human resources.
