Nigeria was like a cancer patient in 2023 – Tinubu

In 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu likened Nigeria's economic situation to that of a cancer patient, as he outlined the necessary painful reforms his administration undertook to tackle deep-rooted economic problems during his Independence Day address. The President defended the economic policies implemented by his government, emphasizing that Nigeria faced a declining economy with rising poverty and dwindling hope when he took office.

He compared the nation's predicament to a patient diagnosed with cancer, stating that the government had to choose between painful treatment or temporary relief through morphine, which would only allow the cancer to spread further. Tinubu criticized previous administrations for opting for the "morphine" approach, opting instead to address the underlying issues.

He argued that successive governments had focused on treating symptoms while allowing deeper economic problems to worsen, and that enormous sums had been spent on inefficient arrangements that were never meant to last. The President claimed his administration confronted the "cancer" by taking decisive action. Although the reforms were difficult and caused hardship, Tinubu argued that they were not responsible for the weaknesses in the economy, but rather aimed to address them.

He also criticized the calls for reverting to the "abuse of addictive subsidies" and urged Nigerians to understand the reasons behind the implemented reforms.