The Federal Government on Wednesday mounted a robust defence of President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda at a Democracy Day press conference, insisting that Nigeria is on a steady path to recovery despite the hardships associated with ongoing economic restructuring.
The high-profile briefing, held in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 27th anniversary of uninterrupted democratic governance and the third year of the Renewed Hope Agenda, featured top government officials presenting a sector-by-sector scorecard of the administration’s performance.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, opened proceedings by describing the occasion as a historic moment for national reflection and accountability. He paid tribute to late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the symbol of Nigeria’s democratic struggle, and acknowledged the contributions of pro-democracy activists including President Tinubu himself in the fight that restored civilian rule in 1999.
Representing the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, acknowledged the economic hardship facing citizens while maintaining that government policies are delivering measurable results.
“Government will never claim that every challenge has been solved. Inflation has been painful, insecurity still threatens lives and livelihoods, and the effects of reform do not land evenly or immediately,” Akume said. “However, evidence shows that Nigeria is moving in the right direction — from fragility toward firmer footing, from stop-gap actions toward systemic reform.”
Economic Indicators
Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, Akume disclosed that Nigeria’s GDP grew by 4.07 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, figures he said reflect growing investor confidence and increased market activity.
He also noted that President Tinubu signed four major tax reform laws in June 2025 aimed at simplifying compliance, enhancing transparency and boosting domestic revenue.
Student Loans and Social Protection
One of the administration’s flagship achievements, the Student Loan Scheme, has supported over 1.058 million students since the Nigerian Education Loan Fund was established under the Student Loan Act signed in April 2024. More than N184 billion has been disbursed in tuition and upkeep allowances.
On social protection, Akume said the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer Programme had reached over three million of its targeted 15 million vulnerable households by August 2025. Nearly one million Nigerians across the country’s 774 local government areas had also benefited from the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme and CreditCorp, which disbursed N37 billion in formal credit to over 200,000 Nigerians in 2025.
Healthcare and Anti-Corruption
The SGF said the administration has supported more than 8,000 primary healthcare centres, with plans to expand coverage to 13,000 facilities, while directing mandatory health insurance implementation across all ministries, departments and agencies.
On anti-corruption, Akume revealed that the EFCC alone contributed over N50 billion in recovered funds toward the student loan programme. He also announced that Nigeria was officially removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025, following improvements in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.
Security and 2027
While acknowledging that insecurity had not been fully eradicated, Akume said significant progress was being made through increased investment in security agencies and enhanced operational capacity of the Armed Forces. “The good news is that we are succeeding,” he said.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, the SGF signalled the administration’s intention to seek a renewal of its mandate, pledging to complete the reforms initiated since 2023.
“Our responsibility is to finish what we commenced in 2023. Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, more dividends of democracy will be delivered,” he said.
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