Nigeria At 66: Tinubu Says Hardest Reforms Over, Prosperity Begins
President Bola Tinubu today, said Nigeria has left its toughest economic reforms behind and is now entering a period of prosperity, while warning against calls to bring back fuel subsidy ahead of 2027.
In his 66th Independence Day speech themed “From Reform to Prosperity,” Tinubu defended subsidy removal and naira unification, comparing Nigeria to a cancer patient who chose painful treatment over temporary relief.
He stated that Nigeria acted like a sick patient told he has cancer, whose doctor offered a difficult but curative treatment, but noted that past leaders preferred painkillers and hoped for a miracle.
READ ALSO: African China Hints At Joining Nigerian Politics
In what appeared to be a response to Atiku Abubakar’s recent promise to restore targeted subsidy if elected, Tinubu urged Nigerians not to fall for the temptation of returning to subsidy.
He said some regressive voices want the nation to abandon reforms and return to addictive subsidies, but Nigerians must remember the reason for the journey and the progress made.
Tinubu maintained that his policies did not create the economic problems but only confronted long-ignored weaknesses.
He said after three and a half years in office, results are clear, with the economy growing over four percent in 2026 driven by oil and non-oil sectors.
According to him, oil theft has dropped, inflation has eased, reserves have improved, forex market stabilized, and non-oil exports hit a record $6 billion in 2025.
He described the earnings as real income for Nigerian businesses and said global observers agree the reforms have strengthened economic stability and attracted foreign investment.
Tinubu said the nation’s economic priority has shifted from fixing the foundation to delivering shared prosperity, declaring that the emergency treatment phase is over.
He defined prosperity as farmers earning decently, factories with stable power, businesses accessing credit, youths employed, and families affording basic needs.
On cost of living, he said government will focus on reducing production and logistics costs through irrigation, improved inputs, mechanization, storage and better transport infrastructure.
He explained that when farming becomes cheaper, post-harvest losses reduce, power costs fall, and goods move faster, prices will eventually drop in markets.
Tinubu promised to prioritize jobs and industrial growth by using gas to power industries, reviving factories, expanding internet access, and promoting in-demand skills.
He expressed desire to see more local production, farms feeding cities and factories, businesses exporting Nigerian products, and youths building global enterprises at home.
Acknowledging hardship, Tinubu said government is scaling support for the poorest via an improved Social Register, citing NELFUND for student loans and CREDICORP for consumer credit.
He noted salaries and pensions have been paid promptly since 2023 and that pension reforms have improved benefits for retirees and vulnerable groups.
He said such interventions are temporary bridges, stressing that his administration aims to defeat poverty, not just manage it.
Tinubu ended with a biblical analogy, saying Nigeria has crossed its Red Sea and must not look back as its destination is now in sight.
His address comes amid high living costs and early 2027 election campaigns, where fuel subsidy has become a major point of contention between APC and opposition figures like Atiku.
