President Bola Tinubu has again assured Nigerians that the country’s “worst days are over.”
He declared that his economic reforms are beginning to deliver results and that hope is rising for a more prosperous nation.
Delivering his national broadcast to mark the country’s 65th Independence anniversary, Tinubu said his administration had chosen “the path of tomorrow over the comfort of today” since coming into office in May 2023, and that Nigerians are now beginning to see tangible results.
“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. I salute your endurance, support, and understanding.
“I will continue to work for you and justify the confidence you reposed in me to steer the ship of our nation to a safe harbour,” the President said.
Tinubu hailed the resilience of Nigerians, saying the country had survived a civil war, military rule and political crises, and is still striving to build “a more perfect union.”
He described the 65th anniversary as a moment for reflection on the sacrifices of the nation’s founding fathers and the progress achieved since Independence in 1960.
The President highlighted achievements in education and healthcare, noting that Nigeria has grown from just two tertiary institutions at Independence to 274 universities, 183 polytechnics and 236 colleges of education by 2024.
Tinubu defended his economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates, which he said ended decades of distortions and rent-seeking.
According to him, these difficult decisions freed resources for investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare and social programmes.
He argued, “In resetting our country for sustainable growth, we ended the corrupt fuel subsidies and multiple foreign exchange rates that created massive incentives for a rentier economy, benefiting only a tiny minority.
“Our administration has redirected the economy towards a more inclusive path, channelling money to fund education, healthcare, national security, agriculture, and critical economic infrastructure.”
