By Kingston Magare 1.10.2026
President Bola Tinubu in his Independence Day broadcast Thursday told Nigerians, his reforms did not unleash hardship on them, but rather they are painful and difficult medicine the country had to take in order to be well again.
Tinubu said the country was recovering and soon enough Nigerians will enjoy the benefits of his prescriptions.
“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.
“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,” the President noted.
He said after three and half years there was evidence that Nigeria’s economic outlook has improved.
“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.”
He assured Nigerians that the “emergency treatment” is over: “The foundation has been repaired. The central economic task before us has changed. For three years, our overriding purpose was to correct our nation’s course.”
President Tinubu...