President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marked two years in office on May 29, 2025. These past two years have not only tested the resilience of the Nigerian state but have also illuminated the character of its leader—his courage to confront difficult truths, his vision to chart a new path, and his determination to lay the foundation for long-term national prosperity. No wonder the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, declared that the achievements of President Tinubu in two years has relatively superseded other administrations. Idris made the assertion during his address at the 2025. Voice of Nigeria’s (VON) Forum in Abuja recently. And he seems right. When he came in on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu inherited a storm. Inflation was high, debt levels were rising, foreign exchange markets were distorted, and the trust of citizens in government had waned significantly. It was not a time for half-measures or cosmetic fixes. What Nigeria required was structural reform—bold and comprehensive—and that is precisely what President Tinubu set in motion.
One of the most defining features of Tinubu’s presidency so far has been his audacious economic reforms. In just two years, he has embarked on transformative initiatives across various sectors, laying the groundwork for sustainable development.
Key reforms include the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of the exchange rate, creating a market-reflective and stable currency environment. These measures have enabled the Central Bank of Nigeria to increase foreign exchange reserves, now more than $38 billion. These reforms have resulted in a surge in investment inflows, with domestic and international investors regaining confidence in the economy. Fitch upgraded Nigeria’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating from B- to B and revised the outlook from Negative to Stable in April 2025. This upgrade reflects increased confidence in the government’s commitment to policy reforms, including exchange rate liberalization, monetary policy tightening, and steps to end deficit monetization and remove fuel subsidies. The World Bank recently reported that Nigeria’s economy grew at its fastest rate in nearly a decade in 2024, attributing this to the early successes of the President’s macroeconomic reforms. The country’s fiscal deficit dropped from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024, bolstered by increased national revenue, from ₦ 16.8 trillion to ₦ 31.9 trillion. Expectedly, the most contentious, yet necessary, was the removal of the decades-long fuel subsidy. Long perceived as a drain on public resources and a magnet for corruption, the subsidy system had crippled fiscal policy, diverting trillions of naira into the hands of rent seekers. Tinubu’s government ended it decisively. The first day he was inaugurated he put an end to the fuel subsidy regime. Though the move initially led to hardship for many citizens, it was a painful but essential correction.
In its place, the funds are now being redirected into critical sectors such as infrastructure, education, and health—sectors with long-term benefits for the common man. To mitigate the impact, the government has expanded conditional cash transfer programs and food security initiatives while working to boost local production and reduce dependency on imports.
Another game-changer was the introduction of the Naira-for-Crude policy, a bold initiative designed to stabilize the naira and streamline international trade. Coupled with comprehensive foreign exchange reforms and the unification of exchange rates, the policy has contributed to restoring investor confidence. The accumulation of over $23 billion in net foreign reserves stands as testimony to the renewed confidence in Nigeria’s economic trajectory. Indeed, the declaration of Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation should be believed regarding the achievements of President Bola Tinubu these past two years. He drummed during his address at the 2025 Voice of Nigeria’s (VON) Forum on in Abuja, with the theme, “Renewed Hope Agenda: Citizen Engagement and National Security” organised by VON with support from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
The Minister explained that the starting point of Tinubu administration was rough and challenging, adding that, after the challenges, the country is looking bright, because Tinubu is steering the ship to prosperity with the prices of food dropping. He added that the implementation of local government autonomy facilitated by Tinubu and the establishment of Ministries of Regional Development and Livestock Development were deliberate efforts to provide development across the country. “A new study has shown that if the livestock sector is fully optimised, Nigeria can take in about N33 trillion, meaning there is that potential of making such an amount from that sector.
“Also, over two years ago, people were scared to travel to Kaduna by road, but now, people are moving to Kaduna with peace of mind. “This is not to say that it is uhuru, but there is a clear indication that there is cooperation in the management of our security system and for the first time in a long time, we are seeing effective coordination among the security agencies. Also, close to the heart of the president is institutional reforms which include local government autonomy, so that third tier of government will better able to serve the people. President Tinubu is also concerned with providing infrastructure connecting Nigeria for growth. President Tinubu’s administration recognizes that infrastructure is not a luxury—it is the lifeblood of development. Under his watch, Nigeria has witnessed groundbreaking progress in infrastructure development. Two legacy projects stand tall: the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway. These highways are not mere roads—they are lifelines for trade, tourism, and national unity. By opening up previously inaccessible areas, they promise to create new economic corridors, stimulate job creation, and foster regional development. In addition to these, the administration has committed to revitalizing the nation’s railway system, seaport modernization, and energy sector reform. These projects are key to unlocking Nigeria’s full economic potential. No national transformation can occur in the absence of peace and security. Nigeria has, for years, battled terrorism, banditry, and communal violence. In 2023, traveling the Abuja-Kaduna corridor by road was a nightmare. Fast forward to 2025, and people are now traveling that same route with peace of mind. The appointment of credible security chiefs and sustained engagements with community stakeholders have also yielded measurable success. While challenges remain, the improved peace in several troubled regions underscores the effectiveness of the strategy. Perhaps one of the most understated achievements of the Tinubu administration is the move towards local government autonomy. This is a historic step towards decentralization, accountability, and grassroots development. For years, the local government system in Nigeria has been a mere extension of state government bureaucracy, often stripped of resources and capacity.
Tinubu’s push for constitutional reform and the actual enforcement of local government financial autonomy has started to yield results. Local councils are beginning to function more independently, taking charge of basic healthcare, education, and rural
infrastructure—services critical to the masses. Additionally, the creation of the Ministry of Regional Development and the Ministry of Livestock Development highlights a leader thinking not just in terms of administrative convenience, but strategic national development. New Journey of Transformation Continues as Nigeria moves beyond the second anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration, there is a sense of measured optimism. The economy is stabilizing, infrastructure is expanding, security is improving, and governance is becoming more responsive. The challenges are not over, but neither is the courage of this administration waning. As the “Renewed Hope” agenda continues to unfold, the dream of a better Nigeria—a secure, prosperous, and inclusive nation—is no longer a distant vision. It is becoming a reality, step by determined step. Indeed, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proven that with vision, courage, and purposeful leadership, a new Nigeria is possible. The journey has begun—and there is no turning back.
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