President Bola Tinubu has once again urged Nigerians to remain patient and optimistic in the face of ongoing economic challenges.
In a video message shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, Tinubu acknowledged the difficulties many Nigerians are facing but called on citizens to consider the long-term benefits of his administration’s economic reforms.
The address marks the second time in four days that President Tinubu has spoken to citizens following widespread protests against economic hardship and rising living costs across the nation.
“Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there’s no doubt that it is tough on us but I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture,” Tinubu stated.
He admitted that there’s an “avoidable lag” between the removal of fuel subsidy and the implementation timeline of relief measures, but assured citizens that his administration’s plans are in progress and will yield positive results.
“All our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they would work. Sadly, there was an avoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully online.
“I plead with you, please, have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your well-being. We will get out of this turbulence and due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
“For example, we shall fulfill our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian students will have to abandon the higher education system because of a lack of money.
“Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On principle, we shall never falter, I assure you, my fellow countrymen and women, that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn. Now, I must get back to work in order to make this vision come true,” he added.
Recent days have seen protests in several states, with citizens expressing frustration over increased hardship following the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the country’s foreign exchange rates.
In his previous address on Sunday, Tinubu had called for an end to the protests, inviting demonstrators to engage in dialogue with the government.
He defended his administration’s policies as necessary steps to reverse decades of economic mismanagement, despite their painful short-term effects.