In his 2024 Independence Day speech, President Bola Tinubu highlighted the critical reforms his administration has implemented since taking office 16 months ago.
In the early morning live broadcast addressing the nation, President Tinubu emphasised that Nigeria is at a crossroads, where the choice is between pursuing necessary reforms or risking collapse.
“My administration took over the leadership of our country 16 months ago at a critical juncture. The economy faced many headwinds, and our physical security was highly impaired. We found ourselves at a dizzying crossroads, where we must choose between two paths: reform for progress and prosperity or carry on business-as-usual and collapse. We decided to reform our political economy and defence architecture.”
On security, Tinubu reported significant progress in the fight against terrorism and banditry, noting that over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated, and peace has been restored to many communities in the North.
“On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry. Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.”
He also stressed that security agencies are committed to fully eliminating these threats to allow farmers to return to their lands, which would boost food production and reduce food costs.
“We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home. It is an unfinished business, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible. As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms. We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this.”
Tinubu also addressed economic reforms, warning that without correcting fiscal misalignments, Nigeria faces potential collapse.
He emphasised the success of these reforms, citing over $30 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the past year.
“The economy is undergoing the necessary reforms and retooling to serve us better and more sustainably. If we do not correct the fiscal misalignments that led to the current economic downturn, our country will face an uncertain future and the peril of unimaginable consequences.
“Thanks to the reforms, our country attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion in the last year,” the president stressed.
Also, he mentioned steps taken to respond to natural disasters, including setting up a Disaster Relief Fund and testing the integrity of dams across the country to prevent future flooding.
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