Democracy Day: We’re working to solve Nigeria’s challenges – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu says the Federal Government recognises the nation’s economic and security challenges, and that his administration is working assiduously to address them.

Mr Tinubu said this on Tuesday at the 2026 news conference on Democracy Day celebration themed “27 years of Uninterrupted Democratic Governance in Nigeria: Challenges, Achievements and the Roads Ahead”.

The President was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Sen. George Akume.

“This administration wishes to let all recognise the fact that Nigeria is a huge viable project and it is work in progress.

“The government, though I would never claim that every challenge has been solved. In fact, no government ever solves every challenge.

“While we pursue various reforms diligently, with purpose and with compassion, government recognises that inflation has been painful, although it is on a downward trend,” he said.

According to Mr Tinubu, government is similarly conscious of the fact that insecurity still threatens lives and livelihoods and that the effects of reform do not land even where you desire results immediately.

“This administration shares in and feels your pains and efforts are already bearing results in reducing these pains.

“Evidence always shows that the country is moving in the right direction, from fragility towards firm footing, from stopgap actions towards system reform, and from scattered intervention towards a more connected programme of delivery.

“I can however affirm the available statistics, the signals, the evidence that market activity and productive exchange are responding very well to reforms.”

On the economy, the President said the available statistical information showed improvement in output, investment and trade.

“The GDP growth has remained in a positive territory over the last two quarters. The National Bureau of Statistics reports a real GDP grew by 4.07 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025 and by 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.

“On fiscal reforms, this government has been deliberate about introducing rules and systems that ensure certainty and accountability.”

The President recalled that he signed four major tax reform laws in June 2025, adding that the fiscal reforms were designed to simplify compliance, improve fairness, and strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation.

On social protection, he said government had sought to question the effect of reforms while preserving dignity and productive efforts.

“The Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, for example, was launched with a target of 15 million households. By August 2025, records show that over three million vulnerable households had benefited.

“Successes have also been recorded under the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme and a credit code which has been closed to over one million beneficiaries across the 774 local governments since 2025.

“Similarly, the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation has been accessed by over 200,000 Nigerians in 2025. Credit code disburses 37 billion naira in consumer credit, with over half of them accessing formal credit for the first time,” Tinubu said.

According to him, the health of Nigerians has remained top priority for this administration. In the health sector, the National Health Insurance Authority Act has created the legal basis for wider health coverage.

He recalled that in September 2025, the government directed mandatory health insurance implementation across MDAs through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

According to him, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is implementing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, and resources have been provided to support over 8,000 primary health care centres, with expansion targeted at reaching 13,000 facilities.

“The Student Loan Act was signed in April 2024, and official results on this novel policy indicate that Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has already crossed the threshold of over one million beneficiaries.”

The President said the anti-corruption institutions had continued to recover assets and prosecute cases.

“The EFCC and ICPC have also continued to recover proceeds of crimes. As a matter of fact, the EFCC boosted the NELFUND with over N50 billion from recovered funds,” he said.

According to him, this administration has successfully, within the three years, introduced better rules, more effective systems, and firmer enforcement in keeping with its democratic obligation, which is to ensure the public authority serves the public interest.

“Accountability, indeed, in this administration is sacrosanct. The safety and security of citizens is our top priority, and the government shall never compromise on this.

“We continue to confront internet security challenges, and the good news is that we are succeeding,” the President said.

He said while dealing with internet security issues, government remained conscious of the impact of international terrorism, especially on the African continent and on our domestic situation.

According to him, the administration continues to deploy resources to boost the capacity and capability of our armed forces and other security agencies.

“We also continue to deploy diplomacy and cooperation with our neighbours and friendly nations to tackle all threats.

“Our manning levels have also been increasing to enable us to engage the cowardly and dastardly bandits on all fronts.”

The President commended members of the armed forces and other security agencies for their commitment and sacrifices.

According to him, government will not pretend that insecurity will disappear today without the active support of all Nigerians.

“We, therefore, appeal to all citizens to make security our personal and collective national project. We call on everyone to be vigilant and to report suspicious activities to appropriate authorities.

“But we can say clearly that institutional responses are being sharpened, coordination is improving, and reforms are continuing because peace and civic order are foundations of democratic progress.

“Let me remind us that democracy thrives when there is cohesion. In a country as diverse and as plural as ours, development is strongest when trust is stronger than division,” Tinubu said.

He said the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council remained a standing Christian- Muslim platform for peace, dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and understanding.

“This administration has continued to promote the activities of the Council as it enhances national stability. We must all remember that we are strengthened when the nation deploys its plurality as a democratic asset.

“To further deepen national cohesion, Federal Executive Council approved the National Values Charter, which is intended to re-anchor public life around discipline, reciprocity, tolerance, citizenship, and service.

“On a day like June 12, the reawakening of our values matters deeply. Looking ahead, our responsibility is to finish what we commenced in 2023.

“As we go into the 2027 general elections, seeking a revalidation of our mandate which has kept what is working; our task is not completed yet. Under my watch, more dividends will be achieved.”
NAN