Tinubu Tells Nigerians: "The Hard Part Is Over, Prosperity Is Here"

President Bola Tinubu has marked Nigeria's 66th Independence Day with a message of hope, insisting that the painful economic reforms of the past three years are finally paying off and that better days are within reach for every Nigerian.

In a nationwide broadcast on Thursday, October 1, Tinubu struck a tone that was part reflection, part reassurance, and part defiance. He acknowledged that his administration's decisions particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira had caused real hardship. But he rejected the growing calls to reverse course, comparing Nigeria's economic crisis to a cancer that required aggressive treatment.

"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 warned against what he called "the siren song" of influential voices urging a return to what he described as "addictive subsidies," insisting that doing so would only drag the country backwards.

And he came armed with numbers to make his case. According to Tinubu, Nigeria's economy has grown by over 4 percent this year, with both the oil and non oil sectors contributing to what he called a new era of stable growth. Oil theft, he said, has dropped significantly. Inflation has fallen from its peak. Foreign reserves have been rebuilt, and the foreign exchange market has stabilised. Perhaps most strikingly, he revealed that Nigeria recorded its highest ever revenue from non oil exports in 2025 surpassing $6 billion.

"These are not idle claims. International observers, journalists, NGOs and multilateral institutions can see the change," he said, adding that foreign direct investment continues to rise year after year.

But the heart of his message was not about statistics. It was about people.

"When I speak of prosperity, I do not speak merely of a larger economy, abstract numbers or better statistics. I mean something much more personal," Tinubu said. He painted a picture of a Nigeria where farmers can work their land safely and earn a fair return, where factories have reliable power, where small businesses can access credit, and where young people can find meaningful work. A Nigeria, he said, where food and transport are affordable and families can look to the future with confidence.

"The emergency treatment is over. The foundation has been repaired. The central economic task before us has changed," he declared. "Now, our purpose is simple: shared and widespread prosperity."

The President also paid tribute to the resilience of ordinary Nigerians the farmer who rises before dawn, the trader who opens her shop each morning, the teacher, the young entrepreneur, and the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives so others can live in peace.

"Sixty-six years ago today, our flag was raised for the first time over a free and sovereign nation," he recalled. "Our journey has not always been easy. In truth, it has generally been too hard for too many. We have endured war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity and political upheaval. Yet through it all, Nigeria, with the indomitable spirit of its people, has endured."

He reminded Nigerians that independence was never just about a flag or an anthem, but about the promise that citizens would have the freedom to shape their own destiny and build a nation capable of providing opportunity and dignity for all.

"Sixty-six years later, Almighty God has made it our responsibility to deliver that promise," he said.

As the nation celebrates, the President's message is clear: the worst may be behind, but the real work building a prosperous Nigeria for all has only just begun.