Presidency has claimed that the country has made significant progress under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership over the past 22 months, despite concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at its first plenary meeting of 2025 in Abuja.
This was stated in a release on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
While acknowledging that some governance challenges persist, Onanuga asserted that Tinubu’s administration has recorded notable achievements in security, the economy, and youth empowerment.
He was responding to CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru, who had listed youth unemployment, insecurity, poverty, corruption, and electoral fraud as key issues affecting the nation.
“President Bola Tinubu deeply appreciates the constant interventions of the Catholic Bishops in matters of governance in our country. The Conference of Catholic Bishops’ patriotic fervour and commitment to national unity, peace, and stability are unassailable and deeply valued and respected by the government,” Onanuga stated.
On security, he claimed, “Nigeria is more secure today than it was in 2023, thanks to our military and other security agencies and the strong leadership provided by President Tinubu as the Commander-in-Chief. In the last two years, over 8000 criminals – bandits, armed robbers, Boko Haram terrorists, and kidnappers – have been eliminated, and over 10,000 Nigerians – primarily women and children – have been rescued from their abductors.”
He added that improved security in the North-West and North-East had allowed farmers to return to their fields, increasing food production and helping stabilise commodity prices.
“Farmers in Kaduna, Kebbi and Jigawa are eloquent testimonies of the improved security ambience,” he said.
Onanuga also highlighted economic improvements, noting that “Tinubu’s administration has stabilised the economy from the precarious situation it inherited on assumption of office.”
He cited improvements in trade balance, foreign reserves, currency strength, and local refining capacity.
On youth empowerment, he pointed to various programmes and the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, aimed at creating over 10million jobs.
According to Onanuga, “Under President Tinubu, Nigeria spends more on economic and social infrastructure such as roads, power, healthcare, education, and security.”
He emphasised that the N54.9 trillion 2025 budget was designed to revitalise the economy.
He also referenced praise from Chatham House, a UK-based think tank, which reportedly stated that Nigeria’s economy had been “most competitive under President Tinubu in 25 years due to his reforms.”
“While we agree that many Nigerians still face difficulties, we remain convinced that the government is making the right decisions that will lead to a better and more prosperous country,” Onanuga stated, adding that Tinubu’s administration remains optimistic about the nation’s future.
