Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) has said the economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration are inflicting severe hardship on Nigerians and urged the president to take urgent action to ameliorate the sufferings of the citizenry.

However, the Federal Government appealed to Nigerians to refrain from spreading negative narratives about the country, as constant negative stories could discourage foreign investment.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the appeal yesterday at the unveiling of Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG), an initiative aimed at reshaping global perception about the country, by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). APBN deplored the pervasive insecurity and violent crimes in different parts of the country, which hinder economic progress.

The President, Manason Rubainu, who raised the concerns at the 2024 Annual General Assembly of the association, yesterday, in Abuja, said ?Nigeria is suffering from governance crisis,? adding that the country, for decades, had been grappling with a political system riddled with inefficiency, corruption and lack of accountability, which left the economy fragile, security in peril and institutions weak.

At the heart of this problem, he asserted, is a political class that has often placed personal ambition over national interest, and power over public service.

Rubainu urged members to engage in public policy debates and offer solutions grounded in their expertise. He said: ?Nigerians are suffering. There is hunger in the land. Poverty and all its consequences pervade the land. I believe President Bola Tinubu knows and understands this very well.

?I do not believe he hates Nigerians and wants to inflict suffering on the land. His policies seem to just do that. I wish he can tell us why we have to suffer more. Sometimes one gets some relief if one knows why he or she is passing through hard times.?

Calling for ethical leadership, the NIPR boss stated, ?Nigeria needs more than good governance; it needs integrity across all levels. We cannot stand by while our nation falters. We must uphold ethical standards and contribute positively to national development.?

IDRIS observed that a weak national brand could discourage investment and deprive the country of what it needs for national development.

According to the minister, Nigeria?s national brand has long been undervalued as a key asset, adding that global perception of a country has a direct impact on its economic and diplomatic fortunes.

He cited countries like Japan, which was ranked top in the world by the Nation Brands Index in 2023, to demonstrate how a well-managed image could boost trade, investment and tourism.

?Now this brings me to the way Nigerians talk about their country. On the one hand, we strive for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to come into our land, but on the other, we are very quick to say all those things that would drive away investors and those who want to identify with us. We must find a way of striking a true balance, especially for the media to report accurately, objectively, and with patriotism.

?I have always said at every opportunity that I have had that you cannot promote your country by promoting all the negatives in your country and dumping the positives; you would be downgrading your country by doing that. We all have to come together to project our national image, so that at least people will see the good in all of us,? Idris stated.

While acknowledging the challenges facing the country, the minister also cited local council autonomy, minimum wage increase, consumer credit schemes, student loan board, agricultural investments and enhanced security measures as notable achievements of the present administration. He urged those in positions of political authority to represent their people effectively and be less selfish about their endeavours.

The minister stated: ?The President has always said his reforms are very challenging. The rot did not start today. Of course, because of the rot, Nigerians elected him to clean the Augean Stable, and this he is doing with every sense of patriotism. Things are so bad; it is difficult sometimes to see some of the positives. But I want you to cast your mind back to a lot of positives that this administration has achieved.?

At the event, the President of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, talked about the response of the combination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Sports in the last 48 hours to ensure that Nigeria stands tall on the global stage.

Idris added, ?I think these are some of the initiatives we all have to applaud. It is not all about bad news in this country. I believe that we are going to turn the corner. We are already beginning to see some positives, as reforms all over the world are extremely challenging. You can rise up to the issue that makes the difference. I think the President is doing that with every sense of responsibility. I call on all Nigerians to support him and give him more time, as Nigeria will reach its desired destination.?

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, lamented that stories about Nigeria were often framed through negative stereotypes, reinforcing old perceptions and creating new negative ones that are difficult to disabuse.

According to him, this presents a peculiar challenge for Nigeria as Africa?s most populous country and largest economy. Neliaku noted the NRMG as a professional, private sector-led platform that would partner relevant agencies of government and the private sector to harvest, harness, recreate and manage the country?s reputation capital as one of its biggest and most valued assets. (The Guardian)

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