VP Shettima: “Be kind, sell ice cream; leadership demands firmness.”

Vice President Kashim Shettima stated that leadership demands tough decisions rather than always being lenient.

He remarked, “If you want to be a nice man you can go and sell ice cream.”

The comment was made while he defended the economic policies of the Tinubu administration.

The remarks were delivered on Monday at the Lagos State Investment Summit.

“If you want to be a nice man, you can go and sell ice cream, but leadership requires you to take very harsh decisions,” Shettima said.

He also praised Lagos State as an economic gateway not only to Nigeria but to the wider West African sub‑region, noting that the state offers access to capital, talent, resources and opportunities.

Shettima said the macro‑economic policies of the Tinubu government aim to restore market confidence and improve fiscal sustainability.

He added that President Tinubu has taken the blame for making critical decisions because the administration understands that the economy the country deserves cannot be built on illusion.