TINUBU URGES NIGERIANS TO KEEP HOPE ALIVE, SAYS SACRIFICE PERIOD NEARLY OVER

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful, assuring them that the country is gradually moving towards peace, development and economic recovery.

Tinubu gave the assurance ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary, scheduled for October 1, 2026.

The President, represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, spoke on Friday during the Independence Day Jumat prayer held at the National Mosque in Abuja.

He acknowledged the challenges that have confronted the country since independence but maintained that Nigeria was on the right path despite its past setbacks and missed opportunities.

According to him, the government was working to address accumulated problems and put the country on a sustainable path to development.

“People should not lose hope. Peace is coming back to this country. Development is coming back to this country. Things will get better as we progress in this democracy,” the President said.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to support the reforms being implemented by his administration, saying the government’s current focus was aimed at correcting past mistakes and addressing missed opportunities.

He said, “Citizens should look at the focus of the government of today: that the mistakes of the past, the cumulative mistakes and missed opportunities of the past, are being corrected in this particular administration.

“And I want to categorically make it clear that Nigeria is on the right path.”

Abbas, speaking on behalf of the President, also appealed to Nigerians to give the administration more time to complete its programmes, urging citizens to maintain faith in the country’s democratic process.

He said Nigerians had endured significant sacrifices for the nation and expressed optimism that the difficult period was gradually coming to an end.

The prayer was attended by several dignitaries, including Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin; Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago; Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo; and the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, among others.