President Bola Tinubu’s October 1, 2026 Independence Day address was upbeat, confident and forward-looking. Its high point was his declaration that Nigeria had passed through the difficult “age of reform” and was entering an “age of prosperity”, with the promise that prosperity would become the lived experience of Nigerians. He cited economic growth, falling inflation, stronger reserves, improved foreign-exchange stability and rising non-oil exports as evidence that his policies had laid the foundation for this transition. But the timing cannot be ignored. This is the opening phase of the 2027 election season, and opposition presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi swiftly challenged the President’s account, reflecting the widening contest over whether macroeconomic indicators adequately describe Nigerians’ everyday reality. Atiku questioned where the promised prosperity was, while Obi also criticised the administration’s economic record.
President Tinubu should remember that his reforms came at enormous social cost. The removal of the petrol subsidy and exchange-rate reforms triggered sharp increases in transport, food and living costs, leaving millions still reeling. Indeed, Tinubu himself acknowledged in his address that families continue to battle for food, school fees, medical bills and transport. There is also an important historical irony. In 2012, when former President Goodluck Jonathan sought to remove fuel subsidy, Tinubu condemned the decision as ill-timed and described it as a burden on Nigerians. Yet, after taking office on May 29, 2023, he declared that “fuel subsidy is gone”, explaining later that he had decided to stop it on his first day.
The administration must also confront the perception that those who designed and implemented the reforms were better insulated from their immediate consequences than ordinary Nigerians. Senior officials continued to enjoy state-funded privileges while households faced soaring costs. That contrast has understandably intensified public scepticism. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been in power since 2015, amid successive promises of transformation. Nigerians have heard pledges on power, security, jobs and infrastructure for years. The patience of citizens is not limitless. The prosperity Nigerians need is therefore tangible. They want energy and building costs—including petrol, gas, aviation fuel, diesel, cement and construction inputs—to become affordable again.
They need upgraded education and healthcare within reach of ordinary families. They need national highways reconstructed and maintained, rather than grandiose projects consuming scarce resources while basic roads decay. Above all, insecurity must end. Jihadists, bandits, Fulani herdsmen, terrorists and insurgents must be wiped from our farmlands so Nigeria can unleash its agricultural potential and foster food security. Prosperity must mean jobs, purchasing power, security, dignity and competent public services. Nigerians should not be asked indefinitely to celebrate official statistics while their household budgets deteriorate. The President has announced the destination. The nation now needs quick, visible and measurable delivery. What Nigerians seek is prosperity they can touch, afford and live.
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