President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s economic reforms, saying the measures were necessary to address longstanding distortions in Nigeria’s economy and put the country on a path to prosperity.

Tinubu made the remarks in his 2026 Independence Day address on Thursday, October 1, as Nigeria marked 66 years of independence.

The President said his administration inherited an economy in which poverty was rising and difficult decisions had been repeatedly postponed, leaving the country with deep economic challenges.

He compared Nigeria’s situation to that of a patient diagnosed with cancer, saying previous administrations had treated the symptoms rather than confronting the underlying problems.

“For too long, Nigeria’s leaders chose morphine while praying for a miracle that never came,” Tinubu said.

He said his administration, upon assuming office, resolved to take a different approach by implementing reforms aimed at addressing the structural problems in the economy.

According to him, the reforms have been difficult and have produced real hardships, but abandoning them would amount to returning to policies that had previously failed to resolve the country’s underlying problems.

“Our reforms did not create the weaknesses in our economy. They confronted them,” the President said.

Tinubu also urged Nigerians to resist calls to abandon the reforms and return to what he described as “addictive subsidies,” arguing that the country must remain focused on the reasons the reforms were introduced.

The President acknowledged that Nigeria’s 66-year journey since independence had been marked by war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity and political upheaval.

Despite these challenges, he said Nigerians had continued to demonstrate resilience through their work and determination to build a better country.

Tinubu also commended farmers, traders, teachers, young entrepreneurs, members of the Armed Forces and other security personnel for their contributions to the country.

He said independence was not merely about attaining sovereignty but about fulfilling the promise of providing Nigerians with opportunity, dignity and a better standard of living.

“Sixty-six years later, Almighty God has made it our responsibility to deliver that promise,” he said.

The President said his administration remained committed to building a “united, strong and prosperous nation” capable of playing a significant role in Africa and globally.