President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to maintain faith in his administration’s reforms, expressing optimism about an economic turnaround despite current challenges.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 at the National Institute for Security Studies in Abuja, Tinubu, represented by National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, acknowledged the difficulties caused by recent economic changes, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira.

“Things are happening in our country today. People may not like us or agree with all our policies, but fundamentally, things are changing. And Nigeria will change,” he stated.

Economic and Security Challenges

Tinubu recognized the hardships faced by many Nigerians as inflation drives up the cost of basic commodities. However, he assured the nation that these reforms would pave the way for long-term growth.

“The economy is changing. Very tough, very difficult, [with] very huge challenges we are facing. But I can assure you, better days are ahead of us,” he emphasized.

Beyond economic reforms, Tinubu addressed Nigeria’s ongoing security concerns, vowing to pursue criminals both within and outside the country.

“If you are a bad man, whether you are inside Nigeria or outside, you are in trouble. We will go after you. We will bring you to justice,” he said.

Call for Better Communication on Reforms

Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu also spoke at the event, defending the administration’s controversial Tax Reform Bills. Aliyu criticized opponents of the bills for not fully understanding their content and called on the government to improve communication with the public.

“Many of the people debating the tax bill have not read it. But again, there is the problem of communication—the government must speak,” Aliyu said, emphasizing the need for clearer messaging.

As Nigerians face tough times, Tinubu’s message sought to reassure citizens that current sacrifices would yield significant benefits in the future.