Tinubu compares Nigeria’s economic reforms with painful cancer treatment

President Bola Tinubu has compared the difficult economic policies introduced by his administration with cancer treatment, saying Nigeria had to endure painful measures to confront longstanding problems. He made the comparison in a televised address marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary. Mr Tinubu said the country he inherited in 2023 faced rising poverty and declining hope after years in which leaders postponed difficult decisions.

The President described Nigeria as a sick patient whose doctor offered a difficult treatment with the prospect of recovery. He said the alternative was to use morphine to dull the pain while allowing the disease to spread. “For too long, Nigeria’s leaders chose morphine while praying for a miracle that never came,” he said.

Mr Tinubu argued that previous administrations had focused on symptoms rather than addressing the underlying economic problems. The analogy was used to defend reforms including the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign-exchange market. Those policies have been blamed by economists and critics for contributing to higher transport, food and production costs and a severe cost-of-living crisis.

Mr Tinubu acknowledged that the reforms had been difficult and that their side effects were real. He nevertheless said the policies had not created Nigeria’s economic weaknesses but had confronted them. He urged Nigerians to reject calls to return to subsidies and continue supporting the reform programme.

In the same address, he said economic indicators had improved. He cited growth of more than 4 per cent in 2026, lower oil theft, reduced inflation from its peak, rebuilt foreign reserves, a more stable foreign-exchange market and non-oil export revenue above $6bn in 2025. The President said the government had now moved beyond emergency economic treatment and would focus on shared prosperity.

He identified lower living costs, productive employment, agriculture, industrial growth and stronger public services as priorities for the next phase of his administration.