The Worst Is Over: Tinubu’s Vision in Nigeria’s 65th Independence Address
President Bola Tinubu used Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day address to offer a message of guarded optimism, telling citizens that “the worst is over” after difficult economic reforms and urging unity as the country moves toward recovery.
Acknowledge the hardship, emphasize resilience
Tinubu opened by recognizing the pain many Nigerians felt from recent economic measures — including subsidy removal and exchange-rate reforms — while arguing that those tough choices were necessary to restore the economy. He thanked citizens for their patience and framed the reforms as seeds that are starting to bear fruit.
“The worst is over ... the seeds of those difficult but necessary decisions are bearing fruit.”
Economic indicators cited as evidence
To support his message, the President pointed to several macro indicators he described as signs of recovery:
- Second-quarter GDP growth reported at about 4.23% — the highest in recent years.
- Inflation easing to around 20.12% in August, a three-year low.
- Multiple consecutive trade surpluses and rising oil production (~1.68 million bpd referenced).
- External reserves recovering to levels not seen since 2019 (around $42 billion reported).
These figures were cited by the President as proof the reform path is starting to yield results. (See reporting by Reuters and other national outlets for the full data and context.)
Focus on youth and production
A significant portion of the address targeted young Nigerians, whom Tinubu described as the nation’s greatest asset. He urged a shift from pure consumption to local production — calling for deeper investment in agriculture, manufacturing, and industrialization to create jobs and drive sustainable growth.
Challenges and critiques
Not everyone accepted the optimistic framing. Critics highlighted that many households still experience severe hardship and argued that the benefits of reforms are not yet visible to ordinary Nigerians. International institutions and some analysts warned of continued inflationary pressure and the need for more inclusive relief measures.
Closing call: unity and vigilance
In closing, the President appealed for unity, patience, and collective effort, stressing that the success of reforms would be measured not just by macro statistics but by tangible improvements in people’s lives — such as food security, education outcomes, and community safety.
Read more / Sources
For fuller coverage of the speech and the economic figures cited, see reporting from major outlets:
Happy Independence day to y'all Nigerian ✊
ReplyDeleteTinubu has been the best government so far, let's support him.
ReplyDeleteAwesome ♥️
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