News
Nigeria @65: The worst is over, hope rising for Nigeria – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the country’s “worst days are over.”
He declared that his economic reforms are beginning to deliver results and that hope is rising for a more prosperous nation.
Delivering his national broadcast to mark the country’s 65th Independence anniversary, Tinubu said his administration had chosen “the path of tomorrow over the comfort of today” since coming into office in May 2023, and that Nigerians are now beginning to see tangible results.
“I am pleased to report that we have finally turned the corner. The worst is over, I say.
“Yesterday’s pains are giving way to relief. I salute your endurance, support, and understanding.
“I will continue to work for you and justify the confidence you reposed in me to steer the ship of our nation to a safe harbour,” the President said.
Tinubu hailed the resilience of Nigerians, saying the country had survived a civil war, military rule and political crises, and is still striving to build “a more perfect union.”
He described the 65th anniversary as a moment for reflection on the sacrifices of the nation’s founding fathers and the progress achieved since Independence in 1960.
The President highlighted achievements in education and healthcare, noting that Nigeria has grown from just two tertiary institutions at Independence to 274 universities, 183 polytechnics and 236 colleges of education by 2024.
Tinubu defended his economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates, which he said ended decades of distortions and rent-seeking.
According to him, these difficult decisions freed resources for investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare and social programmes.
He argued, “In resetting our country for sustainable growth, we ended the corrupt fuel subsidies and multiple foreign exchange rates that created massive incentives for a rentier economy, benefiting only a tiny minority.
“Our administration has redirected the economy towards a more inclusive path, channelling money to fund education, healthcare, national security, agriculture, and critical economic infrastructure.”
The President reeled out a list of 12 economic milestones achieved in the last two years and four months in office.
He said Nigeria’s GDP grew by 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, the fastest in four years, while inflation had declined to 20.12 per cent, the lowest level in three years.
The President added that non-oil revenue had risen sharply, debt service costs had reduced, foreign reserves had increased to $42.03bn, and the tax-to-GDP ratio had grown to 13.5 per cent.
He also noted that Nigeria had posted trade surpluses for five consecutive quarters, with manufactured exports up by 173 per cent and non-oil exports now representing 48 per cent of total trade.
Oil production, he said, had recovered to 1.68 million barrels per day, while local refining had restarted for the first time in four decades, alongside the export of aviation fuel.
Tinubu argued that the naira had grown more stable. He also boasted of improvements in credit ratings, a booming stock market, and the Central Bank’s first interest rate cut in five years as evidence of renewed investor confidence.
The President said his government was investing heavily in security to consolidate economic gains.
“They are winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes. We see their victories in their blood and sweat to stamp out Boko Haram terror in the North-East, IPOB/ESN terror in the South-East and banditry and kidnapping,” he said, adding that peace had returned to hundreds of communities and thousands of displaced persons had gone back home.
He also promised to prioritise food security and agricultural production to lower food costs.
“We must build the roads we need, repair the ones that have become decrepit, and construct the schools our children will attend and the hospitals that will care for our people. We have to plan for the generations that will come after us,” Tinubu said.
Addressing young Nigerians, the President described them as the “greatest assets of this blessed country,” highlighting initiatives such as the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, which has already benefited over 500,000 students, and credit schemes like Credicorp and YouthCred that provide loans for housing, devices and resettlement.
He added that the government was pushing ahead with the $600m iDICE programme, backed by international development partners, to support the digital and creative sectors.
Under the social investment programme, Tinubu said N330bn had been disbursed to eight million households.
He also cited significant progress in transport infrastructure, including rail, roads, airports, and seaports, with major projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Eastern Rail Project underway.
Tinubu acknowledged the pain of reforms but urged Nigerians to remain patient.
“I have always candidly acknowledged that these reforms have come with some temporary pains.
“The biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living remain a significant concern to our government.
“However, the alternative of allowing our country to descend into economic chaos or bankruptcy was not an option,” he said.
The president concluded his third Independence Day address with a call for productivity and national unity, saying, “Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land and build factories to process our produce.
“Let us patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods. I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes. Finally, let all hands be on deck.
“With Almighty God on our side, I can assure you that the dawn of a new, prosperous, self-reliant Nigeria is here.”
A cleric, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has raised alarm after another child was reportedly abandoned at his residence on April 23, 2026.
According to him, the incident occurred earlier in the day when the young boy was discovered at his gate. He stated that he has immediately notified the police and is making arrangements to hand the child over to the appropriate authorities.
The cleric explained that he is unable to take in new children at the moment due to ongoing registration processes with the Ministry of Social Welfare. He stressed that accepting the child would violate existing legal requirements guiding child care and protection.
He further disclosed that his facility is already accommodating over 500 children, making it necessary to strictly adhere to regulations before admitting more.
Chinyere also expressed appreciation to the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the Ministry of Social Welfare for educating him on proper legal procedures.
He reiterated that the child would be transferred to the custody of the Ministry, emphasizing that compliance with the law remains his top priority.
Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level medical student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has died after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.
Emmanuel’s death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Ife University Medical Students Association.
The association lamented the sudden departure, describing Emmanuel as a solid pillar of his class.
The statement read in part, “Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class.
While describing the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”, the association added that “This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family.”
“In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”
Speaking under condition of anonymity, a senior member of the association said the student died on Wednesday without an underlying ailment.
“He died yesterday. But he hadn’t been sick. He just collapsed and couldn’t be resuscitated,” the source said.
“We were about to write our final exam for the session. And during the process of waiting for the exam, he suddenly collapsed in the college and died.
“It’s just unfortunate as he didn’t have any underlying medical condition. We have contacted his family already.”
..As court srikes out charges against CEO, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Ogbuanu, 3 others, Awards N1m cost against her
An Enugu State Magistrate Court has struck out a four-count criminal charge brought against a Lagos-based cleric and Chief Executive Officer, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
.
The court also awarded a N1m cost against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, for her failure to prosecute the case.
.
The ruling, delivered by His Worship D.K. Ekoh at the Enugu South Magisterial District, followed the persistent absence of the complainants since the inception of the matter in January 2026.
.
The defendants, Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, 46; Arinze Onoja, 26; Sedro Theodore, 28; and Basil Ogbuanu, 56, were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges bordering on conspiracy, deprivation of liberty, and assault.
.
The four- count charge levelled against them read:
.
“That you Eze Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Only a ‘m’, on the 16th day of January, 2026 at about 1300hours at Patin-Son Estate, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu within Enugu Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Deprivation of Liberty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
.
Count 11: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 11hours to 13hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State 2004.
.
Count 111: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ against his will from 1100hours to 1300hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
.
Count IV: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’ Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ by beating him all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 252 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
.
However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
.
Nnadozie told the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defence as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
.
Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charge, noting that his clients, who are busy artisans and a Lagos resident, had suffered by traveling to Enugu for a case the complainants were not interested in pursuing.
.
Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
.
“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against”, he said
.
The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
.
The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.
-
News2 days agoAnglican clergyman shot dead
-
News1 day ago
Ojukwu was fighter for justice, Man of ideas — Bianca
-
The suspectThe suspectNews1 day ago
Boko Haram suspect makes explosive claim, says ‘top soldier’ behind Abuja terror attacks
-
News2 days ago
With Transformative Leaders like you, Nigeria of our dream is achievable, Tinubu tells Gov Mbah
-
News3 days ago
Outrage as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff Gbajabiamila asks Rep to ‘Stay in ADC and scatter them’
-
News2 days ago
Over 6,000 Nigerians killed in Benue since Tinubu assumed office — Dino Melaye
-
News2 days ago
FG files charges against alleged coup plotters arrested by DSS
-
News2 days ago
Tinubu sacks two Ministers
