President Bola Tinubu has claimed that his government’s economic reforms are beginning to bear fruit. Speaking at the APC National Summit held at the State House banquet hall in Abuja on Thursday, Tinubu defended his administration’s decisions and insisted that the ruling party has not failed Nigerians. “Two years ago, we set out on a journey powered by hope and a strong belief in this country. We made a promise to tackle Nigeria’s problems directly and rebuild the trust of our people,” he said.

The president expressed confidence that the economic policies introduced since May 2023 are taking effect. He noted that the removal of fuel subsidies was a tough but necessary decision meant to steer the country toward a better future. “We took the bold step to end the subsidy, and we did it for the good of the country. Good things don’t come easy,” Tinubu added.

Since taking office, his administration has introduced a wave of economic reforms, including floating the naira and slashing fuel subsidies—moves which both the government and international bodies say were essential to fix Nigeria’s struggling economy.

However, these changes have been deeply felt by everyday Nigerians, many of whom are battling an intense cost-of-living crisis. With inflation soaring and economic growth sluggish, the World Bank estimates that nearly half of Nigeria’s population lived in poverty in 2024. Similarly, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently pointed out that while the reforms may be important in the long run, they are yet to make a real difference in the lives of ordinary citizens.