President Bola Tinubu has defended his economic policies, claiming that the naira would have become so worthless that Nigerians would need wheelbarrows to carry it if his administration had not intervened.

Tinubu made the statement during a visit to Akwa Ibom State, where he asked residents to support his government and Governor Umo Eno in the January 16, 2027 election.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate described the election as an important moment that would determine Nigeria’s future.

He recalled that 27 out of 36 state governors could not pay salaries, pensions and gratuities when he took office. However, he said the country had moved away from the risk of bankruptcy.

“This coming election, on January 16th is a consequential election. It will define the direction of this country.

“When I took over, 27 governors out of 36 of this country were unable to pay salary, not to talk of pension, and gratuity. Today, I can say that we are out of that tunnel.

“By now if we didn’t take over, if we didn’t do what we did, we will be using the wheelbarrows to move our naira about because it will have become valueless.”

Tinubu also urged Nigerians, especially young people, to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), describing them as a powerful tool for shaping the country’s political future.

At a reception in his honour at Ibom Palm Resort, he praised Eno for transforming 73 acres of erosion-damaged land into a resort with an artificial lake.

“We are standing on a resort to the glory of God. It is a product of 73 acres of land of gully erosion, reclaimed, surrounded with a good, romantic, artificial lake, demonstrating a serious vision that is achievable when honest people are working for their homes,” he said.