By: Adebanjo Zainab Adejoke
October 1st remains a significant date in Nigeria’s democratic trajectory. Nigerians, both home and in diaspora gather annually to celebrate the independence of their own. Today, Nigerians across the country marked the nation’s 65th Independence anniversary with mixed feelings filled with celebration, patrotism and reflection. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his 65th Independence Day broadcast, assured Nigerians that the nation’s most difficult economic period is behind it, he affirmed his reforms are already producing results. The president defended his administration’s tough reforms including the fuel subsidy and unification of foreign exchange rates insisting that the country has “turned its corner” toward recovery . President Tinubu urged citizens to remain patient and hopeful, stressing that “the worst is over, and prosperity is near.” In his address, he acknowledged the historical significance of independence day and reminded Nigerians of the sacrifices made by the nationalist and the resilience of its people. He emphasized on profound social, economic, and political challenges that Nigerians have survived. “While we may not have achieved all the lofty dreams of our forebearers, we may not stray too far from them. Since our independence, we have made tremendous progress in economic growth, social cohesion and physical development. Our economy has experienced significant growth since 1960.” said the president. According to the president, Nigeria today has access to better education and healthcare than in 1960. At Independence, Nigeria has 120 secondary schools with a student population of about 130,000. Available data indicated that, as of last year, 2024, there were more than 23,000 secondary schools in our country. Then, the two tertiary institutions in Nigeria were University of Ibadan and Yaba College of Technology. By the end of last year, there were 274 universities, 183 polytechnics and 236 colleges of Education in Nigeria, comprising Federal, State and Private Institutions.
He further asserts that in the last 28 months of his administration, like previous leaders, That he has committed himself irrevocably to the unfinished nation-building business. The President highlighted a series of achievements under his administration, linking them to ongoing reforms.
Economic Development
He stated, “Under our leadership, our economy is recovering fast, and the reforms we started over two years ago are delivering tangible results. The second quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23%, Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years, and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation declined to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years. The administration is working diligently to boost agricultural production and ensure food security, reducing food costs. “In the last two years of our administration, we have achieved 12 remarkable economic milestones as a result of the implementation of our sound fiscal and monetary policies. “We have attained a record-breaking increase in non-oil revenue, achieving the 2025 target by August with over N20 trillion. In September 2025 alone, we raised N3.65 trillion, 411% higher than the amount raised in May 2023″.
Stronger Foreign Reserve
According to him, external reserves have risen to $42.03 billion, the highest since 2019, while Nigeria now records consistent trade surpluses. This, he said, shows growing investor confidence in the economy. He stated, “We have a stronger foreign Reserve position than three years ago. Our external reserves increased to $42.03 billion this September, the highest since 2019.”
Fiscal Stability
President Tinubu noted that the debt service-to-revenue ratio has dropped from 97% in 2022 to below 50% today. He explained that this gives the government more fiscal space to invest in health, education, infrastructure, and social welfare. He said, “We have restored Nigeria’s Fiscal Health, Our debt service-to-revenue ratio has been significantly reduced from 97% to below 50%. We have paid down the infamous “Ways and Means” advances that threatened our economic stability and triggered inflation.
Oil & Energy Sector:
He said, “Oil production rebounded to 1.68 million barrels per day from barely one million in May 2023. The increase occurred due to improved security, new investments, and better stakeholder management. The President announced that crude oil production has increased to 1.68 million barrels per day. He also celebrated the resumption of domestic petrol refining after four decades, saying this will strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on imports from the Niger delta. “Furthermore, the country has made notable advancements by refining PMS domestically for the first time in four decades. It has also established itself as the continent’s leading exporter of aviation fuel”.
Security:
“We are working diligently to enhance national security ensuring our economy experiences improved growth and performance. The officers and men of our armed forces and other security agencies are working tirelessly and making significant sacrifices to keep us safe. They are winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes. We see their victories in their blood and sweat to stamp out Boko Haram Terror in North-East, IPOB/ESN terror in South East and banditry and kidnapping. We must continue to celebrate their gallantry and salute their courage on behalf of a grateful nation. Peace has returned to hundreds of our liberated communities in North-West and North-East, and thousands of our people have returned safely to their homes” said the president. The President in his statement also addressed the Youths. President Tinubu praised the ingenuity of Nigerian youths, citing initiatives like iDICE, student loan schemes, and creative industry funds as deliberate efforts to empower the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. He noted, “I have a message for our young people. You are the future and the greatest assets of this blessed country. You must continue to dream big, innovate, and conquer more territories in your various fields of science, technology, sports, and the art and creative sector. “Our administration, through policies and funding, will continue to give you wings to fly sky-high. We created NELFUND to support students with loans for their educational pursuits. Approximately 510,000 students across 36 states and the FCT have benefited from this initiative, covering 228 higher institutions. As of September 10, the total disbursed was N99.5 billion,while the up-keep stood at N44.7 billion.” affirmed by the President.
“Therefore, on this 65th Anniversary of Our Independence, my message is hope and a call to action. The federal government will continue to do its part to fix the plumbing in our economy. Now, we must all turn on the taps of productivity, innovation, and enterprise, just like the Ministry of Interior has done with our travel passports, by quickening the processing. In this regard, I urge the sub-national entities to join us in nation-building. Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land and build factories to process our produce. Let us patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods. I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes.” said the President. He urged Nigerians to embrace hope and action by supporting government efforts to fix the economy. He called for productivity, innovation, and enterprise, encouraging states to join in nation-building. He emphasized unity, self-reliance, and belief in Nigeria’s potential, assuring that with the help of God, a new era of prosperity is possible.
Happy Independence Day, Nigerians.
