Category: The Nation – Nigeria

As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, attention is shifting toward the next phase of freedom – one defined not just by political sovereignty but by economic and industrial self-reliance. In the transport sector, NEV Electric Ltd is emerging as a key player shaping that vision, using local manufacturing and clean energy to solve Nigeria’s mass transit challenges.

For decades, Nigeria’s public transport system has relied heavily on imported vehicles and fossil fuels, exposing citizens to fuel price shocks and rising costs. NEV Electric is changing that narrative through an integrated model that combines local assembly, increasing local content manufacturing, and sustainable infrastructure deployment.

The company currently builds its electric buses with 30% local content, incorporating Nigerian components, materials, and labor, with a clear roadmap to reach 70% local content as domestic supply chains expand. This strategy ensures more value remains within the economy, fueling industrial growth, job creation, and technology transfer.

‘True independence means being able to design, build, and power what we need with our own hands,’ says Mosope Olaosebikan, Founder of NEV Electric. ‘We’re not just assembling buses; we’re building Nigeria’s transport future – powered by clean energy, local innovation, and sustainable systems.’

So far, NEV Electric has assembled over 120 electric buses in-country, with plans to scale up to 300 units in its next production phase. The company is also deploying 160kW high-capacity fast chargers across Abuja and Lagos – the largest in Nigeria – to support fleet operations and reduce range anxiety for operators.

To make electric mobility affordable, NEV Electric has introduced a Pay-As-You-Drive financing model that enables transport operators and state agencies to adopt EVs without heavy upfront capital. The plan bundles access to the bus, charging, maintenance, and battery into one predictable payment, ensuring smooth fleet transition and easier adoption.

Beyond vehicles, NEV Electric is investing in training programs for Nigerian engineers and technicians in EV assembly, maintenance, and conversion – empowering a new generation of green-skilled workers.

Aligned with Nigeria’s industrialization goals, NEV Electric is positioning the country as a regional hub for electric mobility. The company’s vision extends beyond Nigeria, with plans underway to export its electric buses and technology solutions to other African markets, contributing to the continent’s clean mobility transition.

By integrating local manufacturing, charging infrastructure, and innovative financing, NEV Electric is delivering a homegrown solution to Nigeria’s urban transport needs – one that reduces emissions, lowers operating costs, and builds local capacity.

As the country looks toward a more sustainable future, NEV Electric represents the promise of a new kind of independence – powered by Nigerians, built in Nigeria, and soon exported to Africa.

‘Every bus we build is a statement of what’s possible,’ Olaosebikan says. ‘We’re proving that Nigeria can lead Africa’s clean mobility revolution – not by importing the future, but by building it.’

Whenever I reflect on graduate joblessness these days, I cannot but recall the good old days when there were more jobs than graduates. My employment history reflected the spirit of the times. Upon my completion of secondary school education at Olofin Anglican Grammar School, Idanre, the School Principal, the late Mr. Titus Adeola Oke, gave me a hybrid employment to teach literature in form two and also assist him in his office, even before the West African School Certificate examination results were released.

Years later, after completing my degree in English at the University of Ife, a job was waiting for me at the same secondary school. However, by September of that same year, I was called back to Ife to start my university teaching career. These early encounters with the job market were replicated over and over again throughout my career. I was headhunted for all my teaching and research positions at home and abroad. The truth is that every graduate I knew at that time had a job waiting for him or her somewhere. With only five or six universities in Nigeria at that time, there were more job openings than there were university graduates to fill the vacancies. What is more, a number of my contemporaries in secondary school, who did not go to the university, aquired enough transferable skills and self discipline to study via correspondence tuition to become accountants, lawyers, and what have you, and they eventually rose to the top of their professions.

Of course, the population has exploded since my undergraduate days, and higher education institutions have mushroomed out of control. Today, there are 307 universities and 812 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Nigeria, according to latest figures from the National Universities Commission and the National Board of Technical Education, respectively. The TVET institutions include 194 polytechnics; 32 Colleges of Agriculture; 131 Colleges of Health Sciences; 154 Colleges of Nursing Science; 181 Innovation Enterprise Institutions;153 Technical Colleges; and 98 so-called Specialised Institutions. Altogether, there are 1,119 higher education institutions in the country, churning out hundreds of thousands of students every year.

It is estimated that 50 percent or more of graduates from these institutions today are unemployed or underemployed. There are many factors responsible for this unpleasant outcome. First, the unplanned multiplicity of higher education institutions has produced graduates far more than available jobs.

Second, many factories and manufacturing industries, which are major employers of labour, have been shutting down in response to a slowing economy, high interest rates, poor or inadequate infrastructure, and insecurity.

Third, educational standards have been on the decline due to numerous factors, including inadequate staffing, poor remuneration and incentives, lack of necessary equipment and facilities, decrepit infrastructure, and over-population of teaching spaces and labs.

Fourth, institutions have not been keeping their curriculums relevant to the needs of the job market. To complicate matters, today’s graduates are hardly equipped with proper career orientation, which often makes it difficult for them to find a suitable job that matches their qualifications.

Fifth, our graduates are victims of a skills gap. In other words, there is a serious mismatch between the skills and competencies our graduates have and the skills employers need for job vacancies. Such skills or competencies should normally be identified at the beginning of a class lesson, a lab work, or a workshop so that students are keyed into them. Students also should be trained on how to transfer skills from one area of knowledge to another in order to solve a new problem or adapt to a new job situation.

I noticed this knowledge gap in my encounter with some graduates while conducting a workshop for teachers of English in a secondary school. I was astonished that a graduate of English had difficulty reading, understanding, and teaching a literature textbook outside the ones she studied before as a student. I also came across a graduate of statistics, who lacked the basic skills to assist in the analysis of data obtained in an opinion poll.

Sixth, many Nigerian graduates are not sufficiently computer literate for today’s job market. They complete their education without adequate computer skills beyond the use of the telephone and social media Apps. They can use of Google to search for answers to homework assignments all right or hack into other users’ data for fraudulent purposes. But they lack basic knowledge of how computers work and can hardly use productivity software. That is why today, the integration of technology, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation, even in knowledge-based sectors, is displacing workers and contributing to graduate unemployment.

Finally, and I blush each time I must repeat this: Most Nigerian graduates lack basic communicative skills in English, the official language, and the language of white-collar workplaces. This is especially true of graduates of public universities and even worse for polytechnic and other TVET graduates. Sometimes, I wonder whether English was their medium of instruction at all or how they succeeded if it was!

I must add, however, that the various problems discussed above are not peculiar to Nigeria. These same factors also account for graduate unemployment across the globe. Nevertheless, the problems vary from country to country. So is the rate of unemployment. For example, on the one hand, university graduate unemployment rate is relatively high in the United States, where the rate is now about the same as the unemployment rate for those without university education.

On the other hand, university graduate unemployment in Britain and the European Union is lower than that of the United States, with significant variations from country to country. A major reason for the difference is in the alignment of skills acquired in European universities and the job market.

What is important for Nigeria is to tackle these problems headlong. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken several major steps in this direction. First, he put a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of universities in the country to halt the overproduction of university graduates. The moratorium should be generalised across all higher education institutions. Besides, a thorough survey of all higher institutions in the country should be carried out with a view to closing failed institutions or merge failing ones with more successful or bigger institutions in order to consolidate resources.

Second, President Tinubu has ordered the final revision and implementation of secondary education curriculum to better prepare students for entry into higher educational institutions.

Third, he ordered a focus on TVET education, with attention on skills acquisition. Under the astute management of Professor Duke Okoro, the Rector, the young Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Delta State, has invested in skills acquisition and skills transfer from the beginning, which enabled the institution recently to win first place in national engineering competition on ‘Applying Engineering Solutions to Tanker Explosion and Fire Outbreak.’

But a lot more still needs be done. The remuneration of teachers across the education sector is long overdue for upward revision in light of current economic realities. There should be more effort on job creation through greater investment in infrastructure beyond road construction. More attention should be given to power and water supply as well as recreational facilities.

The need to enhance security is also critical to attracting investment and creating a path to reindustrialisation. Still more effort should be made to make state and local goverments more responsible for education.

Finally, it is necessary to inject new blood into the civil service and encourage old hands to retire quietly. This is one way to initiate changes in existing civil service culture with all its problems, while also creating jobs for new graduates.

In only his first start for Atalanta in the on-going campaign, Ademola Lookman had an impressive performance as La Dea beat Club Brugge , 2-1.

Atalanta had to come from behind through Lazar Samardzic and Mario Pasalic to claim their first Champions League victory of the season over the Belgian side at the New Balance Arena last night.

There was no Isak Hien, Giorgio Scalvini or Sead Kolasinac in defence for La Dea, nor Charles De Ketelaere, Gianluca Scamacca or Nicola Zalewski further up the pitch.

That, however, meant that Ademola Lookman was called into the starting line-up for the first time this season, following his attempts to leave the club over the course of the summer transfer window. There was also a first start of the campaign for Brazilian midfielder, Ederson.

Atalanta threatened early on through Lorenzo Bernasconi, who thundered a fierce volley just wide of the target from 25 yards out after less than four minutes.

Ederson, Lookman and Mario Pasalic all tried their best to get Atalanta ahead, but it was the visitors who would claim the first-half lead.

Atalanta had to wait until the final 20 minutes to find the equaliser. Nordin Jackers did brilliantly to stop Musah while charging into the area, but the Brugge goalkeeper overcommitted and brought down Mario Pasalic on the follow-up.

Samardzic stepped up to convert the penalty just inside the right post to level for Atalanta with what was his first competitive goal this calendar year.

Then, with three minutes of regular time remaining, Pasalic stole the lead with a well-placed header from Samardzic’s corner delivery, sending the New Balance Arena into a frenzy.

Atalanta, who had been eliminated by Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off round last season, are now off the mark with their first victory in Europe this season.

Incidentally before the game, Atalanta coach Ivan Juric said he called on Lookman and Emerson in the starting line-up for the match because they are ‘excellent athletes’.

‘They’re quality players. They’ve been training with us for a while, I think that today is a good opportunity for them to start playing in matches,’ Juric told Sky Sport Italia about the return of Lookman and Ederson to the starting line-up. ‘They’re two excellent athletes, we’ll see how they get on during the game.’

Wife of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mrs. Aishat Taiwo, has called on pupils to face their future with courage.

Speaking during Spelling Bee Competition, Mrs Taiwo, expressed satisfaction at the turnout and reaffirmed the council’s commitment to education.

She described the Spelling Bee as a celebration of learning and a reflection of the bright future envisioned for children in the community.

She praised teachers, parents, and guardians for their sacrifices in shaping young minds, calling them the true builders of society.

She urged participants to compete with courage and confidence, reminding them that their efforts today are seeds for tomorrow’s success.

Mrs. Taiwo also highlighted the history of the Lagos State Spelling Bee, initiated in 2001 by Senator Oluremi Tinubu through the New Era Foundation, which birthed the famous ‘One-Day Governor’ tradition. She noted that beyond word mastery, the competition builds confidence, sharpens vocabulary, and instills resilience qualities that prepare children for academic success and life’s challenges.

Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Aare Taoheed Taiwo, praised the participants and encouraged them to keep striving for excellence.

He reaffirmed his belief in the capacity of the pupils to make Ejigbo proud and assured that his administration will continue to create an enabling environment for learning, growth, and development.

The event, held at the council secretariat, featured thrilling rounds that tested vocabulary, accuracy, and mental alertness, creating a lively atmosphere of competition and learning.

At the end of the competitive event, Obuseh Destiny from Akinsanya Ajaloleru Nursery and Primary School, emerged winner in the primary school category. Okeke Goodness from Ejigbo Nursery and Primary School and Adurojaiye Daniel from Oladele Alake Nursery and Primary School were runners-up.

Aqua Kiana from Oke-Afa Comprehensive College won the Secondary School Category. Abdulwahab Misturah, also from Oke-Afa Comprehensive College and Akanbi Selimot from Ejigbo Senior High School, emerged runners-up.

The event was attended by the Vice Chairman, Abimbola Nicholas Ike; All Progressives Congress (APC) Party Chairman in Ejigbo, Alhaji Fatai Kasummu; legislators led by the Leader of the House, Gabriel Sobande; the management team led by the Council Manager, Olusegun Ajagunna; facilitators, and staff members of the council.

Super Falcons’ forward Gift Monday has been crowned as the Player of Matchday 22 of the United States Women’s League (USWL) following her sensational hat-trick for Washington Spirit.

The 23-year-old received the highest number of votes in a poll conducted on X (formerly Twitter) , securing 50 percent of the 881 votes cast. She comfortably outpolled Gotham FC’s Rose Lavelle (35 percent), Utah Royals’ Mia Justus (8 percent), and Kansas City’s Bia Zaneratto (7 percent).

It has been a week to remember for the Nigerian international. In addition to the Player of the Week accolade, she was also named in the USWL Team of Matchday 22, further underlining her growing influence in the league.

Monday’s treble not only powered Washington Spirit to victory but also boosted her tally for the season to eight goals and two assists in 19 matches. The former FC Robo Queens and Tenerife striker is now firmly in the race for the Golden Boot, sitting fourth on the charts.

She trails Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga, who leads with 14 goals, Gotham FC’s Esther Gonzalez (13 goals), and Chicago Stars’ Ludmila da Silva (10 goals).

Having only joined Washington Spirit at the start of the campaign, Monday has quickly established herself as one of the USWL’s most dangerous forwards. Her form will also be a huge boost for Nigeria as they prepare for upcoming international assignments.

Sir: The recent war declared by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) on Dangote Refinery for whatever reasons is uncalled for. It is hypocritical, unjustifiable and shameful.

For over 30 years, Nigerians have suffered perennial fuel scarcity and incessant price increases. Yet, there is no record of NUPENG and PENGASSAN’s intervention to bring lasting succour to Nigerians. Even at the time that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari encouraged investors to establish modular refineries, what did NUPENG and PENGASSAN do to encourage the establishment of many refineries to bring relief to Nigerians?

What was the role of NUPENG and PENGASSAN all the years that the fortunes of the Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries have been nosediving? Which workable action plan did they present and discuss with the governments at the federal and state levels to make petroleum products and job opportunities available abundantly?

There have been losses of thousands of lives and properties on Nigeria roads caused by road accidents involving the drivers of fuel tankers. What has NUPENG and PENGASSAN done with the monies they have been collecting from the tanker owners to reduce or prevent the road crashes?

Because of the failure of NUPENG and PENGASSAN, the National Assembly had to mandate the Federal Ministry of Transportation to bring the stakeholders together, including NUPENG and PENGASSAN to solve the problems of road crashes involving fuel tankers and other articulated vehicles. Yet, the stickers of NUPENG, NLC, NURTW, RETEAN, and NARTO adorn the tankers and other trucks without meaningful concerns about the driver road worthiness and the vehicle road worthiness.

What NUPENG, PENGASSAN and their allies are doing to Dangote Refinery will surely discourage more investors from going into petroleum product refining, thereby blocking the channel for more job creation while also reducing the competition that could bring down the prices for the benefit of the masses they claim to be fighting for.

Ironically, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is also mobilising for nationwide strike against Dangote Refinery. Will this not amount to economic sabotage?? Will the NLC strike create more job opportunities?

NLC which is now more active in the affairs of the Labour Party has suddenly woken up to fight against Dangote Refinery. What was the role of NLC when the importation of cement was draining the foreign exchange of Nigeria? As soon as the likes of Dangote and BUA stepped in to produce cement locally, NLC also stepped in to collect union dues. If Dangote and BUA cement were muzzled the way the unions are trying to do to Dangote Refinery now, what would have been the situation today? The new investors in cement production would not have been encouraged to invest.

There have been crises of public transportation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for many years now. The federal government tried to intervene with hundreds of buses but the buses were grounded in less than three years because of mismanagement by NLC. Some of the buses are presently in the NLC yard on Shetima Munguno Crescent at Utako, Abuja.

If NLC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN and other unions cannot successfully run businesses that impact positively on the Nigerian workers they pretend to cherish so much, they should stop taking anti-economic development actions which will inflict more hardship on the masses.

The unions have been amassing trillions of Naira annually without meaningful investments which can better the lives of the people they claim to be fighting for. Many Nigeria workers suffer disabilities and other hardships in their workplaces while the leaderships of the same unions they pay money to every month turn their faces to the other side. Who is deceiving who?

It is time for the government to review the Labour Laws. If what NUPENG, PENGASSAN, NLC, transport unions, and other unions are doing in Nigeria is what happens in Britain, America, China and other developed countries, their economies would have crumbled.

Wazobia FM has marked this year’s World Heart Day with a Heart Walk in Ajegunle, Lagos.

The event, tagged Heart Waka for Life, commenced at the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Participants marched through the community to Maracana Stadium, where fitness activities were held to promote healthier living.

Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Olalekan Akindipe joined the walk side by side with residents.

He described the event as an important step towards building stronger, healthier lifestyles in the community.

The energy of the walk was further boosted by Wazobia FM presenters, who brought their on-air charisma to the streets.

They were joined by top celebrities including Korexx, Cute Abiola, Aproko Doctor, Kemen, Kaffy, Kenny Blaq, and Broda Shaggi, while Mr Macaroni and Gossip Loaded offered their support online.

General Manager for Wazobia FM, Cool FM, Nigeria Info FM, and Kids FM, Femi Obong-Daniels, explained that the Heart Walk was designed to get everyone in the council involved in fitness and health awareness.

Program Managers of the stations and some On-Air Personalities also stressed the benefits of regular walking, highlighting its role in preventing heart disease, improving cardiovascular fitness, and boosting energy levels.

When Bayo Ojulari assumed leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited in April 2025, he inherited more than a corporation. He stepped into a storm defined by falling oil production, chronic revenue leakages, dwindling investor confidence, and the mounting global pressures of energy transition and geopolitical competition. Six months later, the story of NNPC and Nigeria’s energy sector has begun to change.

Ojulari’s leadership has been marked by an insistence on transparency, fiscal discipline, and operational accountability. Unlike previous reform attempts that often remained trapped in rhetoric, his approach has been anchored on execution and measurable outcomes. This shift fits squarely within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes energy independence, foreign investment, domestic refining, and Nigeria’s long-term net-zero ambitions. Reform, in Ojulari’s hands, is no longer an aspiration, it is a working reality.

Daily oil production rebounded from 1.485 million barrels in April to 1.71 million in July, crossing the 1.8 million barrel mark for the first time since late 2024. In the same period, NNPC generated ?20.9 trillion while halting costly refinery losses that had drained up to ?500 million monthly. Operational efficiency has improved, with 100 percent pipeline availability, natural gas production climbing to 7.72 billion cubic feet per day, and major projects like the AKK and OB3 pipelines now nearing completion. Security reforms have also delivered dramatic results, with coordinated efforts nearly eliminating pipeline theft. Perhaps most notably, Ojulari introduced monthly financial reporting for the first time, signaling unprecedented transparency to investors, regulators, and the Nigerian public.

These gains are not just domestic achievements. By surpassing Angola and Libya in production, Nigeria has reclaimed its position as Africa’s largest oil producer, restoring both its credibility and its leverage in OPEC+ negotiations. In a volatile global energy market where reliability is everything, Nigeria is once again being seen as a dependable player, a factor that has begun to restore investor confidence and strengthen its geopolitical standing.

Yet Ojulari’s strategy is not confined to oil alone. He has placed sustainability and transition at the heart of NNPC’s future. Gas is being positioned as a critical bridge fuel, powering local industries, reducing emissions, and boosting LNG exports. At the same time, the company is advancing renewable energy pilots, reducing gas flaring, and exploring carbon-capture initiatives; all of which signal a shift toward greener operations. These efforts align NNPC with global environmental, social, and governance standards, positioning it to meet the expectations of modern investors.

Technology is another pillar of the transformation. Under Ojulari, the company has deployed AI-driven analytics to optimize production and minimize downtime, blockchain platforms to

ensure revenue and supply chain traceability, and automation to enhance safety and efficiency. These moves bring NNPC closer to the practices of global energy giants like Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, and Petrobras, underscoring its ambition to compete at the highest levels.

The reforms are also resonating beyond corporate boardrooms. Inside NNPC, employees are experiencing a new merit-driven culture that rewards performance. Across the wider economy, Nigerian small and medium enterprises are finding expanded opportunities in the energy supply chain. In host communities, improved security and reduced oil theft are strengthening peace and trust. And nationally, stronger revenues are bolstering the budget and foreign reserves at a time when fiscal stability is sorely needed.

Ojulari is quick to acknowledge that the journey has only just begun. Scaling production to two million barrels per day by 2027 will require unwavering discipline, relentless efficiency, and an estimated $60 billion in new investment. Completing critical gas infrastructure remains central to unlocking regional integration and expanding Nigeria’s role in global gas markets. The competition will not stand still either, as Angola and Libya push to reclaim lost ground. But Ojulari’s vision is clear: NNPC must set a new benchmark for African energy companies and emerge as a global player of repute.

The first six months of his leadership have already marked a decisive break from the past. Production recovery, record revenues, operational discipline, and world-class transparency demonstrate that Nigeria’s energy sector is capable of reform and resilience when leadership is committed to delivery. The challenge now is to institutionalize these gains and ensure that momentum is not lost. For Nigeria, the choice is stark: to entrench excellence as the new standard, or risk sliding back into inefficiency and missed opportunity.

The opportunity is global. Above all, the momentum must not be lost. Happy Independence Day Nigeria!

Ogun state government has urged the All Stars Football Association Abeokuta to be true Ambassadors of the state and the southwest zone as they compete for honours at the 2025 National Veterans Football Tournament -Lagos 2025- which kick off on Independence Day.

Speaking through the state’s Commissioner For Sports Development Honourable Wasiu Isiaka , the Muda Lawal Stadium Asero-based All Stars were assured of the government’s support as they strive to bring home the coveted trophy as national champions.

Similarly, NFF executive member and chairman of the Ogun state Football Association, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi, said the state FA is confident of the abilities and capabilities of the veterans to make the state proud in their maiden national appearance.

The 2025 National Veterans Tournament holding in Lagos between October 1st and 5th will see eight qualifiers from six zones across the country competing for the coveted trophy.

All Stars Football Association Abeokuta, the southwest zonal champions, are being joined by Ondo State and the hosts, Lagos, as the representatives of the south west.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday listed 12 remarkable economic milestones recorded by his administration as a result of the implementation of sound fiscal and monetary policies.

Exuding confidence about the workability and potency of his bold socio-economic reforms, he reiterated that Nigeria had finally turned the corner, adding ‘the worst is over.’

‘In the last 28 months of my administration, like our founding fathers and leaders, who came before me, I have committed myself irrevocably to the unfinished nation-building business,’ he said in his Independence Anniversary broadcast to the nation this morning.

President Tinubu, who urged Nigerians to team up with his government in accomplishing the unfinished task, assured Nigerians of great relief after the transient pains of reforms.

He hailed the endurance, support and understanding of Nigerians as his administration redirected the economy towards a more visible path, noting that their patience was not in vain.

The 12 milestones highlighted by the President are:

Record-breaking increase in non-oil revenue;

Restoration of fiscal health as manifested in reduced debt service-to-revenue ratio;

Stronger Foreign Reserve, increased tax-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio;

Increased export drive leading to the strengthening of the currency and job creation;

Increased oil production up to I.6 million barrels per day, and domestic refining; and

N330 billion social investment programme for poor households.

Others are:

Rise in coal mining activities;

Expansion of rail, road, air and sea transport infrastructure;

Improved sovereign credit rating through boom in oil stock market; and

Slash in interest rate for the first time in five years by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

President Tinubu, who reflected on the journey to nationhood from October 1, 1960, when the country achieved Independence, paid tribute to the sacrifice, devotion and vision of the founding fathers who fought for self-rule.

He noted that progress has not been static since, judging by the growth in the sectors, including education, health, infrastructure, financial services, telecommunications, information technology, aviation and defence.

Tinubu said life has been full of ups-and-downs for Nigeria in its 65 years of nationhood, as shown by its experience of a bitter and avoidable civil war, military dictatorships and major political crises.

He lamented that the country suffered ‘because we failed to make the necessary investments decades ago.’

President Tinubu said under his leadership, the economy is recovering fast because the reforms are delivering results.

He added: ‘In the second quarter of 2025, Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23 per cent- Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years – and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund.

‘Inflation declined to 20.12 per cent in August 2025, the lowest in three years. The administration is working diligently to boost agricultural production and ensure food security, reducing food costs.’

The President solicited patriotic spirit from Nigerians and canvassed civil engagements.

The President drew a relationship between security and economic growth, assuring that the anti-terror war would be fought with vigour.

He said: ‘The officers and men of our armed forces and other security agencies are working tirelessly and making significant sacrifices to keep us safe. They are winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.

‘We see their victories in their blood and sweat to stamp out Boko Haram Terror in Northeast, IPOB/ESN terror in Southeast and banditry and kidnapping.

‘We must continue to celebrate their gallantry and salute their courage on behalf of a grateful nation. Peace has returned to hundreds of our liberated communities in Northwest and Northeast, and thousands of our people have returned safely to their homes.’

To the youth, the President said: ‘You are the future and the greatest assets of this blessed country. You must continue to dream big, innovate, and conquer more territories in your various fields of science, technology, sports, and the art and creative sector.

‘Our administration, through policies and funding, will continue to give you wings to fly sky-high.

‘We created NELFUND to support students with loans for their educational pursuits. Approximately 510,000 students in 36 states and the FCT have benefited from this initiative, covering 228 higher institutions. As of September 10, the total loan disbursed was N99.5 billion, while the upkeep allowance stood at N44.7 billion.’

President Tinubu said under the Renewed Hope Agenda, equitable access to a better future has been guaranteed to Nigerians.

Acknowledging that the reforms are accompanied by temporary pains, he said ‘the alternative of allowing our country to descend into economic chaos or bankruptcy was not an option.’

He assured that the resources saved and the stability built would be channelled into proper development.

President Tinubu said ‘we must all turn on the taps of productivity, innovation, and enterprise, just like the Ministry of Interior has done with our travel passports, by quickening the processing.’

He added: ‘In this regard, I urge the sub-national entities to join us in nation-building. Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land and build factories to process our produce. Let us patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods. I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes.

‘Let all hands be on deck. Let us believe, once more, in the boundless potential of our great nation.’