President Bola Tinubu has declared that his administration’s economic reforms have restored stability to Nigeria, prevented a looming financial crisis and placed the country on a path towards sustainable growth.
The President made the remarks on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso. He also assured Nigerians that his administration was intensifying efforts to improve security nationwide.
Tinubu said the government inherited significant economic and structural challenges but had taken difficult decisions that were now yielding positive results.
According to him, the economy has regained stability after facing the threat of bankruptcy when his administration assumed office.
“I have listened to you carefully, and most importantly, your key areas are security and education. I can tell you categorically with sincerity that the country has been placed on a sound footing. The economy has recovered. The alarm for bankruptcy and dark tunnel of uncertainty that we had when I came in has been changed.
“The spirit of the people is lifting, and the economic turmoil that we feared is cleared. The economy has been delivered from bankruptcy.”
The President said his administration would continue implementing programmes aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), while ensuring greater access to education.
On security, Tinubu said the government was restructuring and strengthening security institutions through improved intelligence gathering, increased logistics, better welfare for personnel and the acquisition of additional military equipment.
“We don’t have another country but here – this Nigeria,” he said, adding that his administration had approved the expansion of the Armed Forces, construction of new barracks and procurement of more equipment to tackle terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
The President urged Nigerians to embrace education, entrepreneurship and skills development, describing them as critical tools for reducing poverty and creating opportunities for the country’s growing population.
He also stressed the importance of preserving national unity, saying every stakeholder had a responsibility to safeguard Nigeria’s stability and prosperity.
Highlighting progress in the education sector, Tinubu noted that public universities had recorded improved academic stability, pointing out that prolonged industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had been avoided.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the President dismissed concerns over the neutrality of the electoral process, insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would provide a level playing field for all political parties.
“The opportunities are equal. INEC is neutral. They have never intimidated anyone. If political opponents are crying wolf, maybe they are afraid of their own shadows and uncertainty in the companies they keep, not me,” he said.
Tinubu also reaffirmed his support for the return of mission schools where constitutionally permissible, recalling that he restored mission schools during his tenure as governor of Lagos State.
Earlier, CBCN President, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, commended the Federal Government for its cordial relationship with the Vatican but expressed concerns over insecurity, poverty, access to quality tertiary education and the need to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The Archbishop also urged the President to support the return of mission schools, guarantee equal treatment for all religious groups and ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
