Newscenter Media News The Nigerian presidency insists the country is on a steady path of progress under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, despite criticism from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
The bishops, at their first plenary meeting of 2025 in Abuja, raised deep concerns over youth unemployment, insecurity, poverty, corruption, and electoral fraud. But in a detailed statement issued Monday, the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, painted a contrasting picture of a nation moving toward stability and prosperity.
Onanuga acknowledged the governance issues raised by the bishops but insisted that security in Nigeria has improved significantly since Tinubu took office nearly 22 months ago.
“Nigeria is more secure today than it was in 2023,” Onanuga stated. “Over the last two years, more than 8,000 criminals, including bandits, armed robbers, Boko Haram terrorists, and kidnappers, have been eliminated. More than 10,000 Nigerians, mostly women and children, have been rescued from their captors.”
This claimed improvement in security, Onanuga said, has allowed farmers in troubled regions like Kaduna, Kebbi, and Jigawa to return to their lands, increasing food production and driving down the cost of essential goods.
On the economy, the presidency said Tinubu’s administration inherited a precarious situation but has since achieved stability.
Read Also: NNPCL denies terminating naira-for-crude contract with Dangote Refinery
“Our balance of trade has improved, foreign reserves are stronger, inflation has moderated, and the naira is gaining strength against major currencies,” Onanuga stated. “The increased local refining capacity, thanks to the Dangote Refinery and the revitalized NNPCL refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri, is another sign of economic progress.”
He also cited praise from Chatham House, a UK-based policy think tank, which recently commended Tinubu’s economic management team, describing Nigeria’s economy as the most competitive it has been in 25 years.
The presidency stressed that the administration remains focused on youth empowerment, rolling out programs designed to harness the creativity and skills of Nigeria’s young population.
“These initiatives, 3MTT, NATEP, LEEP, IDiCE, NiYA, and the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, are targeted at creating over 10 million jobs,” Onanuga explained.
Despite acknowledging ongoing hardships faced by many Nigerians, Onanuga maintained that the administration’s reforms are laying the foundation for long-term prosperity.
“The unprecedented N54.9 trillion 2025 budget is designed to revitalize the economy and set it on a new growth trajectory,” he said. “We remain convinced that the government is making the right decisions, and the future looks bright.”
The post Tinubu’s Govt defends progress in wake of Catholic Bishops’ criticism appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.