President Bola Tinubu marked Nigeria’s 65th Independence, declaring reforms are yielding growth, lower inflation, and stronger revenues.
He urged patience, saying sacrifices will build lasting prosperity, security, and opportunities for Nigerians.
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President Bola Tinubu, in his Independence Day broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, assured citizens that the country is on a path of recovery after tough reforms, declaring that “the worst is over.”
The President said his administration inherited a near-collapsed economy in 2023 but chose to embark on reforms instead of maintaining “business as usual.” He pointed to the removal of fuel subsidies, unification of foreign exchange rates, and targeted investment in infrastructure, education, health, and security as key steps taken to reset the economy.
According to Tinubu, these measures are already producing results. He noted that the economy grew by 4.23% in the second quarter of 2025, inflation dropped to 20.12% in August—the lowest in three years—and government revenues hit record highs. External reserves rose to $42 billion, while Nigeria recorded five consecutive quarters of trade surplus, with non-oil exports rising sharply.
On infrastructure, Tinubu highlighted ongoing rail projects, major highways, and renewed investment in energy and mining. He also pointed out that social programmes had reached millions of households, with over eight million families benefiting from cash transfers and students receiving loans through NELFUND.
The President praised the military for “winning the war” against terrorism, banditry, and violent crimes, saying peace has returned to many communities. He also reassured young Nigerians of continued government support through student loans, credit facilities, and programmes to boost technology and the creative sector.
While acknowledging the hardship caused by reforms, Tinubu urged patience, saying sacrifices are laying “a new foundation cast in concrete, not on quicksand.” He called on citizens and state governments to prioritise productivity, innovation, and patronage of locally made goods, insisting that “Nigeria must be a nation of producers, not just consumers.”
Tinubu ended his speech with a message of hope, expressing confidence that Nigeria is entering “a new dawn of prosperity and self-reliance.”
