Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has accused Labour Party leader and businessman, Peter Obi, of sabotaging the federal government’s #GrowNairaBuyNaija initiative through what he described as “massive importation” of foreign goods.
In a statement on Saturday, Omokri claimed that Obi, through his retail chain, Next stores, remains Nigeria’s “single biggest individual importer,” thereby posing a major threat to the country’s push toward self-reliance and industrial growth.
“We cannot move from consumption to production and become a prosumer nation if people like Peter Obi, through his Next stores, do not stop their massive importation of goods that can be easily manufactured locally,” Omokri said.
He further alleged that the continued influx of imported tomato paste, milk, cereals, toiletries, and other consumer products by businessmen like Obi is stifling local manufacturers and undermining President Bola Tinubu’s economic achievements.
“As long as people like Peter Obi keep dumping cheap imported goods on the Nigerian market, domestic manufacturers will strive and not thrive,” he added.
Omokri also praised the Tinubu administration’s reported 4.3% GDP growth, warning that unchecked import dependence could erode the gains.
“I challenge Peter Obi to move from importing to manufacturing, to show that he is fully committed to the economic growth of Nigeria,” he said.