President Bola Tinubu has offered a robust defence of his administration’s economic agenda, declaring that the difficult reforms his government has pursued are already delivering measurable results and putting Africa’s largest economy on a firmer footing.

Speaking on Thursday at the maiden State House Media Dinner in Abuja, the president acknowledged the pain of the adjustments but pointed to a series of positive indicators that he said validate the government’s approach. “The difficult but necessary reforms undertaken by this administration are yielding results. Our economy is stabilising. Public revenues have strengthened significantly,” Tinubu told the gathering.

He highlighted the cascading benefits of improved fiscal health, noting that state governments are now receiving substantially higher allocations to support development projects. “Investor confidence is returning. Our foreign reserves have improved considerably. The oil and gas sector is attracting renewed investment. The stock market has witnessed remarkable growth. Key economic indicators are moving in the right direction,” the president said.

Tinubu credited the turnaround to a combination of tax reforms, fiscal discipline, infrastructure investments, and improvements to the business environment — measures he said are laying the groundwork for a more competitive and prosperous economy. While conceding that the work is far from over, he expressed confidence in the trajectory. “The journey is not yet complete, but the direction is clear, and the foundations for long-term growth are being firmly established,” he noted.

Beyond the economy, the president also turned his attention to security, commending the armed forces and intelligence agencies for their performance across multiple theatres of operation. He said his administration has “maintained a determined, multi-dimensional approach” to tackling insecurity. “Military operations have intensified across several theatres. Intelligence gathering has improved. Inter-agency collaboration has strengthened. Regional and international cooperation has expanded,” Tinubu said.

He detailed the results of those efforts, citing the neutralisation of thousands of criminal elements and terrorists, the rescue of numerous hostages, and the reclamation of communities previously under threat. “Security agencies continue to demonstrate courage and professionalism in confronting terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, and other forms of criminality,” he added. The president reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing every part of the country and ensuring that Nigerians can live, work, and prosper in peace.

A Message to the Media

In his address to journalists, Tinubu struck a conciliatory tone, describing the media as partners in nation-building even as he acknowledged the inherent tension between the press and those in power. “We are adversaries only in the democratic sense, as the media constantly distrust those in power. In nation-building, we are partners,” he said.

He elaborated on the distinct but complementary roles of government and the press. “Government exists to serve the people through leadership, policy, and public service. The media exists to serve society by watching those entrusted with power, asking difficult questions, and holding government accountable. The Nigerian people have deliberately assigned us these roles,” Tinubu noted.

The president pledged that his administration would continue to uphold constitutional guarantees of press freedom, citing Sections 22 and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution. However, he also urged journalists to exercise responsibility in their reporting. “Report and inform with care and accuracy to facts and in a manner that ensures the society is not set on fire,” he said.