President Bola Tinubu has admitted that people in Nigeria are going through tough times, and he blamed some of the problems on past actions.
During a meeting with former leaders of the National Assembly, led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Tinubu expressed hope that Nigeria can move forward by working together and being inclusive.
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“Despite political differences and the current hardship, you still have faith in me and our plans for the country,” he said.
“I appreciate your support. No one can fix the problems better than us. I’ve traveled the world and seen how developed nations have progressed through teamwork, inclusiveness, and strong financial systems.”
“Yes, we are facing hardship, but how did we get here? What did we do when oil production was high? We neglected our communities, ignored the source of our wealth, and didn’t provide a good standard of living for our people.
“We also failed to educate our children. Just look around at the rundown schools. If the learning environment is poor, how can students be motivated to learn? We complain about low school enrollment, but did we do anything to encourage it? We must reflect on this because it’s a matter of conscience.”
On his first day in office, Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy, which caused fuel prices to triple. He also unified exchange rates, leading to the naira falling from N600 to over N1,600 against the dollar.
These decisions, along with rising inflation, have caused hardship for many Nigerians, including some of Tinubu’s supporters who are now questioning his leadership.
Earlier this week, former military Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar spoke about the worsening situation. During a visit by the Campaign for Democracy (CD) in Minna, he said, “The hardship in the country is becoming unbearable. People can’t afford three meals a day. Transportation costs, fuel prices, and school fees are rising, and there’s little money in people’s pockets.”
In response, Tinubu told his guests on Friday that his government is focused on real results, aiming to improve the country’s infrastructure, food and energy security, education, and long-term economic stability.