President Bola Tinubu has marked the third anniversary of his administration with a statement defending the difficult economic reforms implemented since he assumed office in May 2023. The president acknowledged the hardship that followed his removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, but maintained these decisions were necessary to prevent a deeper national crisis and fiscal breakdown.
In his anniversary statement, Tinubu declared that Nigeria has stabilized and is moving forward, asserting that the country chose reform over ruin and decisiveness over hesitation. He addressed citizens directly, saying their sacrifices have not been in vain and that visible progress is taking shape across the country. The Renewed Hope Agenda, the administration's policy framework, encompasses economy reform, job creation, security enhancement, infrastructure development, energy expansion, and agricultural transformation among its key pillars.
Meanwhile, the APC presidential primary held on Saturday delivered an overwhelming mandate for Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid. The president polled a total of 10,999,162 votes against his only co-contestant, Stanley Osifu, who received just 16,503 votes. The results were announced by the chairman of the APC presidential primaries election committee, Senator Pai Osayim, in Abuja.
However, critics maintain that the benefits of the reforms have yet to reach millions of Nigerians who continue to grapple with high living costs, elevated borrowing rates, a weaker Naira, and growing concerns over public debt. The debate continues over whether the pain of reform is translating into lasting economic recovery and improved living standards for ordinary citizens. The fuel subsidy removal alone fundamentally changed the baseline of Nigeria's economic indicators when Tinubu famously declared on his inauguration day that the subsidy was gone.
In a separate message marking Eid al-Kabir celebrations, President Tinubu urged Muslim faithful to use the sacred occasion to pray for the country, for peace in communities, and for wisdom for those in leadership. He also addressed the plight of school children and teachers currently held in captivity in Oyo and Borunu states, pledging that his administration will not rest until every abducted child is safely returned, offering personal assurances as both a father and head of state that the victims have not been forgotten.