The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele is very angry with Mr. Atedo Peterside over his comments about the government economic policies: “The critics of the government policies do not love the country more than the government. Our priority today will be the Nigerian people. We are laying emphasis on those who want to produce what we cannot but what we need. Policies are not made in isolation; they are made to achieve some objectives.”
“For us policy makers, we are faced with low oil prices with heavily depleted foreign reserves. What can we do? We can only continue to prioritise our needs. Our priority today is Nigeria and Nigerian market and we will continue to do our best. With the limited resources at our disposal, we will continue to give forex to those that want to import raw materials that we cannot produce in the country.”
“We will give emphasis to those that want to import plants and equipment that will help this country. We will give support to those who are going into agriculture, importing agric raw material and implements. “I will say that some of the 11 points raised by Atedo Perterside are contestable but it is very important that we talk from the stand point of understanding of the reason why certain policy decisions were taken.”
“Policies are not made in isolation, they are made because certain things have happened and with some objectives in mind with desire to ensure that those objectives are achieved. I will disagree with some of his points. But I think, it is very important that before we make conclusion, we should cast our minds back on why these policies were made rather than criticizing them. “We will look at the points, some of them we will take. I will find time so that we can share why some of those policies were put in place.”
“We love our country and we will not do anything wrong to our country. We are willing to dialogue and understand where challenges are coming from. Government is doing its best in the face of the global economic challenges. We will not head in the way of Venezuela and Zimbabwe. We will work together for Nigerians because we love our country.”