Connect with us

News

Nigeria @64: We Must Reform Or Collapse — Tinubu

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, stated that Nigeria must either reform for progress and prosperity or continue with business as usual and risk collapse.

He, however, said his administration, upon taking over the leadership of the country 16 months ago, decided to reform the political economy and defence architecture, given the critical juncture the country found itself.

Advertisement

He lamented that Nigeria found itself in a precarious situation because of the missed opportunities and mistakes of the past while calling on Nigerians not to allow the mistakes to follow the country into the future.

This was part of the text of the national broadcast by the President, on the occasion of the 64th Independence anniversary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, delivered on Tuesday morning.

Nigeria got its Independence from Britain, its erstwhile colonial master, on October 1, 1960.

Advertisement

Tinubu, in the national broadcast made available to The PUNCH, said the economy faced many headwinds and security highly impaired upon his assumption of office.

“We found ourselves at a dizzying crossroads, where we must choose between two paths: reform for progress and prosperity or carry on business-as-usual and collapse. We decided to reform our political economy and defence architecture,” he said.

He added that if the country did not correct the fiscal misalignments that led to the current economic downturn, it would face an uncertain future and the peril of unimaginable consequences.

Advertisement

The President further said the economy was undergoing the necessary reforms and retooling to serve the people better and more sustainably.

“Thanks to the reforms, our country attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30bn in the last year.

“We inherited a reserve of over $33bn 16 months ago. Since then, we have paid back the inherited forex backlog of $7bn.

Advertisement

“We have cleared the ways and means a debt of over N30tn. We have reduced the debt service ratio from 97 per cent to 68 per cent.

“Despite all these, we have managed to keep our foreign reserve at $37bn. We continue to meet all our obligations and pay our bills. We are moving ahead with our fiscal policy reforms.

“To stimulate our productive capacity and create more jobs and prosperity, the Federal Executive Council approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which will now be transmitted to the National Assembly.

Advertisement

“These transformative bills will make our business environment more friendly, stimulate investment and reduce the tax burden on businesses and workers once they are passed into law,” he said.

He announced that the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment would receive ministerial approval shortly, having been concluded by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.

READ ALSO: Nigeria@64: Senator Urges Tinubu, Others To Alleviate Sufferings Of Nigerians

Advertisement

“Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes.

“This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively.

“As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.

Advertisement

“This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.

“The move will create vibrancy and increase oil and gas production, positively impacting our economy,” he said.

Tinubu also lauded the Central Bank of Nigeria for its monetary policy management which, he said, had ensured stability and predictability in the foreign exchange market.

Advertisement

The President said the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players was on course.

He said the Federal Government was ready to assist the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in acquiring CNG buses.

He said the move would also help to ensure cheaper public transportation for the masses and relief to the hardship.

Advertisement

The President reiterated the stand of his administration on Local Government autonomy, saying it was resolute in its determination to implement the judgment of the Supreme Court.

“As part of our efforts to re-engineer our political economy, we are resolute in our determination to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the financial autonomy of local governments,” he said.

The President said the past mistakes landed the country in its present state.

Advertisement

He, however, said to become one of the greatest nations on earth, as destined by God, the country must not repeat such mistakes.

“We celebrate the progress we have made as a people in the last sixty-four years, we must also recognise some of our missed opportunities and mistakes of the past.

“If we are to become one of the greatest nations on earth, as God has destined us to be, our mistakes must not be allowed to follow us into the future.”

Advertisement

He vowed to tackle hardship and the rising cost of living with renewed vigour.

Fellow Nigerians, as I address you today, I am deeply aware of the struggles many of you face in these challenging times.

“Our administration knows that many of you struggle with rising living costs and the search for meaningful employment. I want to assure you that your voices are heard.

Advertisement

“As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.”

He lamented the high cost of living, especially food costs, a situation he said was shared by many around the globe, as prices and the cost of living continued to rise worldwide.

READ ALSO: Nigeria@64: Tinubu’s Independence Anniversary Speech

Advertisement

Tinubu, however, assured Nigerians that his administration was implementing measures to reduce the cost of living in the country.

He lauded the governors of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa and those in the South-West who had embraced the agricultural production programme.

The Federal Government, in July 2024, announced a comprehensive plan to ramp up agricultural production for the 2024/2025 farming cycle.

Advertisement

The plan included sustained support for smallholder farmers through existing government initiatives during the ongoing wet season farming.

Other initiatives, as unveiled by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, included the intensive agricultural mechanisation and development aimed at reducing drudgery, lowering production costs, and boosting productivity.

The government also disclosed readiness to collaborate with subnational entities to identify irrigable lands and increase the area under cultivation.

Advertisement

In partnership with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the government also promised to rehabilitate and maintain irrigation facilities under river basin authorities across the federation.

Speaking on the initiative, the President said, “I commend the governors particularly, in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and the Southwest Governors that have embraced our agricultural production programme.

“I urge other states to join the Federal Government in investing in mechanised farming. We are playing our part by supplying fertiliser and making tractors and other farm equipment available.

Advertisement

“Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2,000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc riders, bottom ploughs and other farm equipment. The plant has a completion time of six months.”

Tinubu listed the achievements of the administration in the area of improved security, adding that it was winning the war on terror and banditry.

He announced that within one year, the security forces had eliminated over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders in the Northeast, Northwest and some other parts of the country.

Advertisement

“On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry.

“Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism.

“Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.

Advertisement

“We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home. It is an unfinished business, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible.

READ ALSO: Nigeria @64: Obaseki Urges Nigerians To Believe In Bright Future

“As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms.

Advertisement

“We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this,” the text of the broadcast read.

Speaking on the recent natural disasters, particularly the flooding in parts of the country, Tinubu sympathised with victims and promised relief to those affected.

“After Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri, I also visited to assure our people that this Federal Government will always stand with our people in their times of trouble.

Advertisement

“At the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, we approved a Disaster Relief Fund to mobilise private and public sector funds to help us respond faster to emergencies.

“Our government has also ordered integrity tests of all our dams in the country to avert future disasters,” he stated.

The President announced a 30-day gathering of the youth in the country, where their diverse challenges and opportunities would be addressed.

Advertisement

“As we work to overcome the challenges of the day, we remain mindful of the next generation as we seek to galvanise their creative energy towards a better future.

“We lead today with the future we wish to bequeath to our children in focus, recognising that we cannot design a future that belongs to them without making them its architects.

“Considering this, I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference. This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who constitute more than 60 per cent of our population.

Advertisement

“It will provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building. By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.

“The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice.

“The modalities of this confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives.

Advertisement

“Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations. The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria,” he said.

He said the government was implementing several other youth-centric programmes to give the youth an advantage in the rapidly changing world.

Tinubu added, “We are implementing, amongst others, the 3 million Technical Talents programme (3MTT) of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone.

Advertisement

“We have also enthusiastically implemented the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams.

“In addition, later this month, we shall launch The Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP). It is conceived as a comprehensive suite of interventions at job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that is aimed at facilitating the creation of 2.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly, on an annual incremental basis whilst simultaneously ensuring the welfare and safety of workers across the country.”

READ ALSO: Taliban Court Publicly Flogs Woman For Illicit Relationship, Running Away From Home

Advertisement

Tinubu said though it was tempting to focus on what had been left undone and where the people had stumbled as a nation, the sight of how far Nigerians had come in forging and holding the country together must not be lost.

Since independence, our nation has survived many crises and upheavals that led to the dissolution and disintegration of many other nations worldwide.

Six years after independence, our country descended into a political crisis that led to a bitter and avoidable civil war. Since returning from the brink of that darkest moment, we have learned to embrace our diversity and manage our differences better as we continue to work towards engendering a more perfect union.

Advertisement

“Despite the many challenges that buffeted our country, we remain a strong, united, and viable sovereign nation.”

He lauded the “can-do spirit” of the Nigerian people, the massive intellectual capacity, and enterprise and industry in all vocations, saying that Nigerians were living the dream of the founding fathers.

He said looking back to the past 64 years, Nigerians could see how well the country had succeeded in realising the lofty dreams of the founding fathers.

Advertisement

“Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that would lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance, and underdevelopment, a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa and the world.

“Over six decades later, we can look back, and Nigerians worldwide can see how well we have succeeded in realising the lofty dreams of our founding fathers.

“The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of the Nigerian people, our massive intellectual capacity, and our enterprise and industry in all vocations, from arts to science, technology to infrastructure.

Advertisement

“The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it,” he added.

The President announced that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, have been conferred with the honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.

He listed the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, as recipients of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic.

Advertisement

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, according to the President, was awarded the Commander of the Order of Niger.

 

Advertisement

News

17-year-old Nigerian Named World Best In English At 2025 TeenEagle Finals In London

Published

on

…Outperforms over 20,000 participants from 69 countries

Nafisa Aminu, a 17-year-old student of Tulip International College, Yobe State, has emerged world’s best in English at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals.

The 17-year-old was named the World Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Fake Labubu Dolls Worth Millions Seized In London Raid Amid Growing Safety Fears

The TeenEagle competition is an internationally recognised contest that tests English proficiency, critical thinking, and communication skills, attracting students from both English-speaking and non-English-speaking nations.

Nafisa’s triumph was confirmed in a statement by the head of her family, Hassan Salifu, who attributed her success to “dedication, discipline, and the enabling support of the state government.”

Advertisement

Representing Nigeria, Nafisa outperformed over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, a historic feat that has thrust her into the global academic spotlight and brought honour to Nigeria.

 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

FG Promotes 30 Senior NCoS Officers To Assistant Controller General

Published

on

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has approved the promotion of 30 senior officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service to the rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections.

The announcement was made in a press statement signed by the NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar, on Tuesday.

Advertisement

“The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has approved the promotion of 30 Controllers of Corrections to the prestigious rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections,” the statement read.

Abubakar noted that the promotions were made in line with CDCFIB’s commitment to “merit-based advancement, professional excellence, and the continuous strengthening of leadership within the Nigerian Correctional Service.”

READ ALSO:Customs Intercepts N1.7bn Falsely Declared Goods Across South-West Zone

Advertisement

“Among the newly promoted officers are twenty-seven general duty officers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and operational competence in various formations across the country.

“In addition, three professional officers have also been elevated in recognition of their outstanding service and specialized contributions in the areas of Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing, and Public Health,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the promotion exercise was said to align with the ongoing reforms in the Service, a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Advertisement

The statement credited the reform momentum to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose efforts were described as “unwavering” and “unprecedented.”

READ ALSO:Court Strips Transport Minister, CRFFN Regulatory Power Over Licensed Customs

Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, congratulated the newly promoted officers, charging them to rise to the responsibilities of their new roles.

Advertisement

“I urge them to redouble their effort to service delivery, strategic leadership, and the core mandates of reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates,” he said.

He further stressed that the promotions are not merely rewards for past service but “a call to higher responsibility in line with global best practices in correctional management.”

“The Service remains committed to building a motivated, disciplined, and professional workforce capable of meeting the complex demands of modern corrections and public safety,” Nwakuche added.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

News

Adeleke Flies To US For Davido’s Wedding

Published

on

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has travelled to the United States to attend the wedding ceremony of his nephew and music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

Recall, Davido confirmed that he and his wife, Chioma Avril Rowland, will have their white wedding in Miami, Florida, in August 2025.

Advertisement

He made the announcement during an interview on The Breakfast Club, aired on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed Adeleke’s trip in a statement issued on Tuesday, in response to concerns raised by the opposition All Progressives Congress over the governor’s whereabouts.

READ ALSO:Davido Thrills In Toronto, Brooklyn As US Tour Heats Up

Advertisement

Governor Adeleke left Nigeria for the United States via the family’s private jet a few days ago for the wedding of the global music icon, his beloved nephew, David Adeleke.

“His Excellency is extending an invitation to the opposition party to attend the event and share in the joy of the occasion with the Adeleke family.

“Those unable to attend may join virtually,” Rasheed stated.

Advertisement

He noted that Adeleke had not taken any official vacation since assuming office in November 2022 and said the current trip would be short.

READ ALSO:Davido Withdraws From 50 Cent’s London Concert

Additionally, from the November 2022 date, the governor has not gone on official vacation.

Advertisement

“For this current trip, the Governor has again chosen to make it a short one to continually attend to crucial state functions.

“Meanwhile, the Governor is in constant communication with his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, who is supervising activities of the government,” Rasheed added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Osun APC had accused Adeleke of leaving the state without informing residents or formally transmitting power to his deputy. The party described the governor’s absence as “abnormal.”

Advertisement

READ ALSO:Davido, Asa To Perform At National Sports Festival’s Opening Ceremony In Abeokuta

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, the party said, “The question being asked in hushed tones in some public places, inside commercial buses and by motorcycle riders and their passengers in the state, is where could be the whereabouts of their governor for this long.

“As the governor of all and sundry, we as a party need to know the whereabouts of the governor and who has been holding fort for him during his absence from the state since two weeks ago.

Advertisement

“Did the governor duly transmit power to his deputy who is constitutionally covered to temporarily step into the shoes of his principal in his absence?”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending