Tinubu’s reforms saved Nigeria from collapse, says Akume

.... As SGF lists gains in economy, infrastructure, power, security, agriculture, youth empowerment.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON, has said the far-reaching reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration since 2023 were necessary to save Nigeria from imminent collapse, insisting that the measures are already yielding positive results.

Akume spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the 66th Independence Anniversary Lecture, organised as part of activities to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, with the theme, “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.”

According to him, the administration inherited serious economic challenges which required difficult but decisive interventions, including the removal of petrol subsidy, unification of the foreign exchange market and tax and other fiscal reforms.

“This administration took office in 2023 and immediately took bold decisions needed to save the nation from imminent collapse. Such decisions include the removal of the petrol subsidy, unification of the foreign-exchange market, tax and other fiscal reforms, etc. These were difficult decisions, but necessary to rebuild stability and we have started enjoying the results,” he said.

The SGF, who reflected on Nigeria’s journey 66 years after independence, said the country had survived the civil war, decades of military rule and several other trials, attributing its resilience to the faith and determination of Nigerians.

“Yet through it all, our faith has sustained us and our people continue to demonstrate a strong belief in the Nigerian project,” he said.

Akume cited World Bank figures showing that Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, compared with 3.9 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.

“According to the World Bank, Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 4.2% in the first half of 2026, up from 3.9% a year earlier, as business activity expanded. The task before us now is to ensure that growth translates into jobs and higher incomes for all Nigerians,” he said.

He also highlighted the administration’s infrastructure drive, saying massive investments in roads, rail, ports and other critical infrastructure were improving connectivity and opening new opportunities for economic growth.

“The country has over the past three and a half years witnessed massive investment in infrastructure and to improvement in connectivity,” the SGF stated.

He listed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Abuja-Kano Highway, East-West Road, rail modernisation projects and port reforms among the major interventions expected to improve trade routes and stimulate economic activity.

On the power sector, Akume said the government had moved to address longstanding challenges through the clearance of legacy debts, increased investment, improved transmission and billing systems, as well as greater utilisation of Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources.

He said the administration was also expanding mortgage finance as part of efforts to boost housing development and create jobs.

The SGF disclosed that more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted to Compressed Natural Gas, with over 400 conversion centres and 90 fuelling stations established nationwide.

“This shift is cutting fuel costs for motorists and commuters. CNG buses now carry millions of passengers at fares far below those of petrol buses. We will not return to the ruinous petroleum subsidy regime of the past.”

Akume further said the government was pursuing measures to strengthen agriculture and food security, with emphasis on mechanisation, irrigation, improved seeds, fertiliser, storage and local processing.

“I am pleased that the World Bank has approved a $500 million credit for the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW) project. This initiative will raise smallholder productivity, strengthen value chains, and improve food and nutrition security,” he announced.

Turning to the youth, the SGF noted that more than 60 per cent of Nigerians are below the age of 25, describing the demographic as the country’s greatest asset.

He said government had expanded the Education Loan Fund to make university and vocational education more accessible, while technical and vocational institutions were being strengthened to provide skills required by industry.

“Our young people are not just leaders of tomorrow – they are partners in building Nigeria today,” he said.

Akume also urged Nigerians in the diaspora to invest in the country, saying their contribution went beyond remittances to include ideas, investments and national pride.

On healthcare and social protection, he said thousands of primary healthcare centres were being equipped under the IMPACT initiative, while programmes including NG-CARES Additional Financing, SOLID and HOPE were being expanded to provide cash transfers and essential services to vulnerable families.

On security, the SGF commended the armed forces for their efforts and said the government was improving equipment, intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination, alongside the development of a new National Threat Assessment and a five-year Strategic Defence Plan.

“Security and welfare of the people is the responsibility of government. Nothing matters more than the safety of our people. When communities have opportunities and trust in justice, crime and violence decline. In that sense, development and security go hand in hand,” he said.

Akume said the country’s independence anniversary should serve as a renewed call to duty for political leaders and citizens, stressing that the ultimate objective of the administration was to build an economy where Nigerians could prosper through productive enterprise.

“We as leaders envision a Nigeria where a young graduate becomes an employer of labour; where a farmer can feed his family and sell surplus at market; where an entrepreneur can turn a small shop into a thriving enterprise; and where every child goes to a good school and sees a doctor when sick.”

“We know the path will not be easy but our goal is clear: shared prosperity for all Nigerians,” he added.