President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marked Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a bold declaration that the nation’s “worst days are over,” insisting that his economic reforms are beginning to yield results and restore hope.
In a nationwide broadcast on Wednesday, Tinubu said his administration had chosen “the path of tomorrow over the comfort of today” since assuming office in May 2023, adding that Nigerians are now seeing the benefits.
“I am pleased to report that we have finally turned the corner. The worst is over, I say. Yesterday’s pains are giving way to relief,” he told citizens.
The President defended his controversial reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates, which he argued ended decades of distortion and rent-seeking. He said the savings have been redirected to fund education, healthcare, infrastructure and social programmes.
Listing recent gains, Tinubu highlighted:
GDP growth of 4.23% in Q2 2025, the fastest in four years.
Inflation down to 20.12%, its lowest in three years.
Foreign reserves rising to $42.03bn.
Non-oil exports now making up 48% of trade.
A stock market surge and the Central Bank’s first interest rate cut in five years.
He also noted a recovery in oil production to 1.68 million barrels per day and the restart of local refining after four decades.
Tinubu praised the armed forces for “winning the war against terrorism, banditry and violent crimes,” saying peace had returned to many communities and displaced families were returning home.
He outlined investments in agriculture to boost food security, while social investment programmes have disbursed N330bn to over eight million households.
Youth-focused schemes such as the Education Loan Fund, Credicorp, YouthCred and the $600m iDICE initiative were also highlighted as pillars for the future.
Call for unity and productivity
While acknowledging the pain of reforms, Tinubu urged patience and patriotism:
“The biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living remain a concern. However, the alternative of allowing our country to descend into economic chaos or bankruptcy was not an option.”
He concluded by calling on Nigerians to embrace productivity and national unity:
“Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land, build our factories, patronise Made-in-Nigeria goods and pay our taxes. With Almighty God on our side, I assure you that the dawn of a new, prosperous Nigeria is here.”
