In a surprising move, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended the controversial economic reforms introduced by his administration, insisting that they were not responsible for the widespread struggles faced by many Nigerian families. In his Independence Day address to Nigerians on Thursday, October 1, 2026, the President acknowledged that millions of citizens still struggle to afford basic necessities. However, he argued that the hardship was the result of problems that have accumulated over several decades, rather than a consequence of his administration’s policies.
According to Premium Times Nigeria, Tinubu made this assertion in a speech marking Nigeria’s 66th anniversary, stating that ‘Our reforms did not create the weaknesses in our economy. They confronted them.’ The President also emphasized that ‘the emergency phase of economic reforms is over’.
This sentiment was echoed by Vanguard News, which reported that Tinubu said ‘the reforms didn’t create Nigeria’s economic problems but were aimed at confronting longstanding structural problems.’ The President’s defense comes amidst widespread criticism of his administration’s economic policies, with many Nigerians claiming they have led to increased hardship and poverty.
However, Tinubu emphasized that the reforms were necessary to tackle longstanding economic distortions and improve Nigeria’s overall outlook. According to THISDAYLIVE, he said ‘Nigeria’s economic outlook has improved significantly under my administration.’ It remains unclear whether this improvement will be enough to alleviate the struggles faced by millions of Nigerians.
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