Tinubu Is Fixing a Broken System, Not Performing Magic — A Necessary Response

The narrative making the rounds that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised “CHANGE” but delivered “suffering” is not only misleading but deliberately ignores the realities on ground and the depth of decay his administration inherited in 2023.
President Tinubu did not assume office in a vacuum. He met a country burdened by decades of economic mismanagement, crippling fuel subsidy fraud, mounting debt, a weak naira, low investor confidence, and structural distortions that were unsustainable. Any leader serious about rescuing Nigeria had only two options: delay the pain and worsen the collapse, or take tough decisions now to secure the future. Tinubu chose the latter.
Ending Fuel Subsidy Scam
One of the boldest and most necessary actions taken by Tinubu was the removal of fuel subsidy, a policy that enriched a few elites while draining trillions of naira annually. For years, Nigerians were deceived that subsidy was helping the poor, when in reality it was feeding corruption and smuggling. Today, funds saved are being redirected to states, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social interventions.
Exchange Rate Reforms
The unification of the exchange rate ended a system where insiders benefited from arbitrage while the economy bled. Though painful initially, this reform has restored transparency, boosted foreign inflows, and laid the foundation for a more competitive economy.
Massive Infrastructure Drive
Despite fiscal constraints, Tinubu’s administration has continued and expanded critical infrastructure projects:
Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway
Renewed focus on road, rail, and power projects
Support for state governments with increased FAAC allocations
These are long-term investments that create jobs and unlock economic growth.
Support for States and Workers
Since subsidy removal, states now receive significantly higher allocations, enabling them to pay salaries, clear arrears, and execute projects. The Federal Government has also approved wage awards and is engaging labour unions on a new minimum wage to cushion the impact on workers.
Security and Agriculture
The administration has intensified efforts to tackle insecurity, particularly in food-producing regions, while rolling out initiatives to boost local food production, reduce import dependence, and stabilize prices over time.
Renewed Hope Is a Process, Not a Slogan
Renewed Hope was never a promise of instant comfort; it was a commitment to structural correction. Nations do not recover from years of economic abuse overnight. What Nigerians are witnessing is the cost of fixing a broken system, not evidence of failure.
It is easy to weaponize hardship for political points, but it is dishonest to pretend that Nigeria’s problems began in 2023. President Tinubu is doing what many avoided — confronting the hard truth and taking responsibility.
Nigeria did not enter the mess in one day, and it will not exit it in one day. But for the first time in years, the country is facing reality with courage, direction, and purpose.
History will be kinder to this administration than the noise of the moment.