Tinubu @ 2: A New Chapter, A New Nigeria

Let’s be honest with ourselves.

Two years ago, if anyone had told Nigerians that we’d be seeing fuel queues disappear, foreign reserves surge, minimum wage increase to N70,000, and over 13,500 terrorists eliminated from the battlefield, many would have rolled their eyes, hissed loudly, and asked the question: “Na who go do am?”

Well, two years later, here we are — and it turns out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been doing exactly that: breaking hard ground, fighting entrenched dysfunction, and laying down the tracks for a more resilient, forward-moving Nigeria.

No, this is not Eldorado yet. But make no mistake — we are moving in the right direction, and the signs are becoming clearer by the day.

 

Bold Moves from Day One

May 29, 2023. That was the day Nigeria’s 16th President stood before the world and said the four most shocking words in a presidential inauguration since 1999: “Fuel subsidy is gone.”

Cue chaos. Cue alarm bells. Cue WhatsApp broadcasts of doomsday predictions. Many thought the economy would collapse. That salaries would vanish. That the roof would fall in.

But what happened instead?

Tough as it was, that single decision — backed by a clear-headed move to unify Nigeria’s tangled web of forex exchange windows — marked the beginning of one of the boldest economic resets in our country’s modern history.

And guess what? The roof didn’t fall. Instead, a new foundation was laid.

 

From Chaos to Credibility: Economic Stabilisation in 2 Years

Let’s talk numbers, not narratives. In 2022, Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio was nearly 100%. Today, it’s under 40%. That’s not by magic; it’s the result of careful, calculated fiscal discipline.

In 2023, our net foreign reserves were hovering dangerously around $4 billion. Fast forward to the end of 2024 — we’re talking $23 billion. That’s a five-fold increase.

Still not impressed?

We’ve paid off our IMF debt. Fuel subsidies, once a bottomless pit draining over N4 trillion annually, are gone. Ways & Means — that naughty overdraft habit between CBN and FG — has been discontinued.

And as a direct result of these reforms, investors are returning. Confidence is rising. Inflation, while still high, has started to ease. The rice you bought for N60k in January? It’s now N45k in some markets.

 

The People at the Centre

Here’s the part that matters most: these are not just abstract numbers to please economists in Abuja or win applause at Davos.

This administration’s true genius is in grounding reforms in the realities of ordinary Nigerians.

Tax reforms? Yes, they’re underway — but with empathy. No VAT on food, education, rent, health services, or even public transport. That’s real money left in the pockets of working Nigerians.

Digital entrepreneurs and freelancers now enjoy more favourable tax policies. Small businesses are being pulled out of tax hell. And for the first time, there’s a Tax Ombudsman on the way — so the taxman can’t just bully you with impunity.

These aren’t populist gimmicks. They’re structural reforms with the people in mind. A fairer, flatter tax system? Check. More money for states and local governments? Check. N6 trillion in revenue in Q1 2025 alone? Double check.

 

Fixing What Matters: Health, Education, Jobs

In two years, over 8,000 primary health centres are being revitalised. Six new cancer centres — three already completed. Free dialysis at pilot centres. Over 20 million Nigerians now have health insurance — up from 16 million in 2023.

In education, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund is no longer a campaign promise. Over 300,000 students are already benefitting. Infrastructure is being expanded. And through NASENI, young Nigerians are being trained in electric vehicle assembly, drone technology, and diagnostic kits.

You wanted jobs? NASENI has created over 75,000. Solid minerals? 70,000 more. Manufacturing, creative industries, energy? Tens of thousands more.

Yes, there’s still unemployment. But tell the truth: are things looking more hopeful now than they did two years ago? The honest answer is yes.

 

Security: From Despair to Determination

Security remains a sore spot, no doubt. But the numbers paint a more hopeful picture.

Over 13,500 terrorists neutralised. 17,000 arrested. Nearly 10,000 hostages rescued. Banditry hot zones are slowly cooling. Highways that were once death traps — Abuja-Kaduna, Zaria-Funtua — are safer.

More aircraft, more equipment, more coordination. But more importantly: more visible impact.

Farmers are returning to farmlands. Travellers are sleeping easier. There is still work to be done, but the trajectory is upward.

And the President? He’s not making excuses. He’s demanding more from his security chiefs. And that’s how it should be.

 

Roads, Rails, and Refineries: The Big Infrastructure Push

You want infrastructure? You’ll need a bigger notebook.

Over 440 road projects — including 2,700km of highways — are ongoing. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway? Flagged off. Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway? Underway. Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano? Check, check, check.

 

Port Harcourt Refinery? Restarted. Abuja Light Rail? Back online. And in electricity, we hit a record 6,003 MW in power generation in March — the highest ever.

 

Now imagine when the Electricity Act starts yielding fruit — empowering states and private players to independently generate and distribute power. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting close.

 

A More Confident Nigeria on the Global Stage

 

President Tinubu isn’t just fixing things at home — he’s repositioning Nigeria abroad.

 

In just two years, we’ve hosted G20 leaders, signed billion-dollar deals in France, Qatar, and India, and exited the Aviation Working Group’s watchlist for non-compliance.

 

We’ve attracted over $50 billion in FDI commitments — with Shell alone announcing $5 billion for deepwater projects.

 

And with the Motherland Festival set to launch, Nigeria is showcasing not just its politics or problems — but its culture, creativity, and sheer human potential.

 

We’re no longer just asking for investment. We’re offering returns. Big ones.

 

From Lagos to Abuja: The Legacy is Real

 

It’s tempting to compare Tinubu’s presidency with his governorship. And the parallels are uncanny.

 

Just like in Lagos, he inherited chaos. He started with unpopular reforms. He emphasised internally-generated revenue. He built institutions. He planned long-term.

 

Today, Lagos is the beating economic heart of West Africa. Don’t be surprised if — in a few years — we start describing Nigeria the same way.

 

The Real Winners? Everyday Nigerians

 

No, you don’t need a PhD in Economics to feel progress. It’s in the student who can finally access a loan. The farmer who no longer runs from bandits. The businesswoman who gets fair tax breaks. The artisan who’s now learning how to install solar panels or fix drones.

 

The pensioner finally paid after years of waiting. The dialysis patient who no longer has to pay N60,000 per session. The mother whose child now attends school with a meal and a chance.

 

These are not statistics. These are lives.

 

And while there’s still plenty to do — food prices, insecurity, power, local government reform — let’s not ignore how far we’ve come.

 

The Work Ahead

 

President Tinubu knows the honeymoon is over. He said it himself: “We cannot achieve Eldorado in one day.”

 

But with two years behind us, the foundation has been laid. The plumbing is being fixed. The hard part is always the beginning. And this government didn’t shy away from it.

 

Now, it’s time to consolidate.

 

• Scale up social programmes.

 

• Keep inflation down.

 

• Deepen agricultural reforms.

 

• Secure more lives.

 

• Tell the story better.

 

Because it’s not just about changing Nigeria — it’s about helping Nigerians believe again.

 

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

 

When Tinubu stood on that podium in 2023 and removed fuel subsidy on the spot, many thought he was playing political roulette.

 

But two years later, the economy hasn’t collapsed. In fact, it’s bouncing back.

 

• Food security is improving.

 

• Power generation is rising.

 

• Investments are flowing.

 

• Confidence is returning.

 

• Hope is being renewed.

 

So, is it all rosy? No. But is it working? Absolutely.

 

President Tinubu didn’t promise magic. He promised hard work. And he’s delivering — one tough reform at a time.

 

The next two years will determine the legacy. But if the first two are any indication, then Nigeria isn’t just surviving. It’s resetting, rising and roaring back.

 

Let’s stay the course. The future isn’t just bright — it’s already breaking through the clouds.

 

Happy second anniversary to a government that dares to do.

 

Happy 26 years to Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

 

And here’s to a new Nigeria — not in theory, but in motion.