We Can’t Erase Decades-long Problems in 4 Years, Says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu addressed the challenges Nigerians face in his first Independence Day speech, acknowledging that the issues he inherited were not something that could be fixed within just four years. He described Nigeria as a country that had been "sick" and in a "deeply distressed state" when he took office, and had inherited decades of accumulated economic problems.

The president claimed that his administration had turned a corner and entered an "age of prosperity," succeeding in repairing the foundations of the economy. He dismissed calls for the return of petrol subsidies, calling them "regressive voices" and warning against abandoning the reforms that have been implemented. Tinubu emphasized that the goal is to steadily lift people out of poverty while ensuring that those who are vulnerable are not left behind.

He contrasted Nigeria's current situation with its history of war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity, and political upheaval, highlighting the role of the resilience and determination of its people. The president argued that the country's promise of independence had been undermined by policy choices that allowed economic distortions to grow, and that by 2023, poverty was rising and hope was nearly gone.

Tinubu declared that his administration had no choice but to act, likening Nigeria to a "sick patient" who must undergo painful but necessary treatment. He stressed that his administration chose to confront the underlying problems rather than simply treating the symptoms, and that the reforms they introduced did not create the weaknesses in the economy, but rather addressed them.

Tinubu rejected the idea of returning to the era of subsidies, warning that doing so would undermine the progress that has been made. He urged Nigerians to remember the reasons behind the reforms and the significant distance the country has come since taking office in May 2023.