The Nigerian Presidency has reaffirmed its commitment to national development, stating that the country has recorded significant progress since President Bola Tinubu took office nearly 22 months ago.
Responding to concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at its first plenary meeting of 2025 in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, released a statement on Monday outlining the administration’s achievements.
While acknowledging existing governance challenges, Onanuga insisted that Tinubu’s leadership had brought improvements in security, economic stability, and youth empowerment.
“In terms of insecurity, Nigeria is more secure today than it was in 2023. Over 8,000 criminals, including bandits and terrorists, have been eliminated, and more than 10,000 kidnapped victims have been rescued,” he stated.
He further noted that increased security had allowed farmers, especially in the North-West and North-East, to return to their fields, leading to greater food production and declining prices of essential commodities.
Onanuga also highlighted economic gains, pointing to a stronger balance of trade, improved foreign reserves, and the appreciation of the naira.
He credited these developments to Tinubu’s economic reforms and increased refining capacity, particularly with the operations of the Dangote Refinery and NNPCL facilities in Port Harcourt and Warri.
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Regarding youth empowerment, he emphasized government initiatives such as 3MTT, NATEP, LEEP, IDiCE, NiYA, and the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, designed to create over 10 million jobs for young Nigerians.
He added that Nigeria’s revenue collection had improved, allowing for increased investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security, as reflected in the N54.9 trillion 2025 budget.
“While we acknowledge the difficulties many Nigerians still face, we remain convinced that the government is making the right decisions for a stronger and more prosperous future,” Onanuga stated.
He also cited Chatham House’s recent recognition of Tinubu’s economic policies, describing Nigeria’s economy under his leadership as the most competitive it has been in 25 years.
The statement concluded by assuring Nigerians that the administration remains focused on driving positive change and national progress.