- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s policies while stressing that the reforms introduced are not responsible for Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Tinubu maintained that the reforms were introduced to confront the lingering challenges which, according to him, accumulated from past administrations.
The president stated this during his nationwide broadcast delivered on Thursday to mark the 66th Independence Day anniversary.
Tinubu his address, described Nigeria as a sick patient diagnosed with cancer.
He compared the past efforts of previous administration as administration of morphine which only induced the pain without eradicating the cancer.
‘Nigeria was like a sick patient who receives the terrible news that he has cancer.
‘His doctor explains that the treatment will be difficult and painful, but that it offers a strong prospect of recovery.
‘The patient has a choice. He can begin treatment, endure its discomfort and fight the disease.
‘Or he can ask only for morphine, dull the pain and leave the cancer to spread.
‘For too long, Nigeria’s leaders chose morphine while praying for a miracle that never came.
‘They focused on symptoms while allowing the disease to take hold deep within the fabric of our society.’ He said.
Tinubu held that his administration had rather than continue with the same treament choose to excise the cancer by through the difficult reforms.
‘We spent enormous sums sustaining inefficient arrangements that were never intended to last.
‘We hid from difficult truths and passed the consequences from one generation to the next.
‘When this Administration assumed office, we resolved to do things differently. We chose to excise the cancer.
‘The reforms that followed were difficult. The side effects were real. Yet, we must never confuse the medicine with the disease.’ He said.
The president thereafter held that his administration was not responsible for the economic weaknesses but had ratehr confronted the weaknesses.
He warned against abandoning the reforms.
In what can be considered a jab at the Atiku Abubakar’s vow to return fuel subsidy, Tinubu warned Nigerians against returning to what he described as abuse of addictive subsidies proposed by the 2027 African Democratic Congress Presidential candidate.
‘Our reforms did not create the weaknesses in our economy. They confronted them.
‘Now, as certain influential but regressive voices would have us abandon the treatment and return ourselves to the abuse of addictive subsidies, we must resist their siren song.
‘We must remember why we began this journey and how far we have already come.’ He said.
The president highlighted the accomplishments of his administration over the past three and half years which he described as undeniable evidence of improved economic outlook.
‘Three and a half years later, the evidence that Nigeria’s economic outlook has improved is undeniable.
‘Our economy has grown by over 4 per cent this year. Both oil and non-oil sectors have contributed to the renewed period of stable growth.
‘Oil theft is down. Inflation has fallen substantially from its peak.
‘Our foreign reserves have been rebuilt, our foreign exchange market has stabilised, and in 2025 this country recorded its highest revenue from non-oil exports in its history, exceeding $6 billion.
‘This is real money being made by real Nigerian businesses.
These are not idle claims.
‘International observers, journalists, NGOs and multilateral institutions can see the change.
‘Each has concluded that our reforms have strengthened Nigeria’s economic stability and resilience.
‘The private sector has long since delivered its verdict, and foreign direct investment continues to rise each year.’ He said.
