Tinubu’s painful reforms are saving Nigeria – APC declares

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms, though painful in the short term, are critical measures that are saving Nigeria from long-standing systemic collapse and setting the country on a path to sustainable growth.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the first anniversary of Tinubu’s administration, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described the President’s performance as bold, reform-driven, and anchored on long-overdue decisions that previous administrations lacked the courage to make.

Morka said: “President Tinubu did not inherit a healthy economy. What he met was an economy bleeding from decades of inefficiencies, debt burdens, oil theft, corruption, and reckless fiscal policies. But rather than shy away from the challenge, he confronted it head-on.”

Morka cited two major policy moves — fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification — as critical interventions that helped prevent a total economic breakdown.

According to him, while these measures have led to initial hardships for Nigerians, they are laying the foundation for long-term economic recovery.

His words: “The fuel subsidy was a drainpipe enriching a few at the expense of millions.

“Removing it was necessary. The hardship Nigerians are feeling today is the result of postponing these tough choices for too long—not Tinubu’s doing.”

He added that the unification of Nigeria’s multiple exchange rates has started attracting foreign investments and restoring confidence in the naira.

“These reforms are tough but necessary. And they are already yielding signs of investor interest and macroeconomic stability,” Morka said.

On poverty alleviation, the APC spokesman said ₦125 billion had been disbursed under the Presidential Palliative Program to support small businesses, manufacturers, and informal sector traders.

He said, additionally, ₦200 billion was injected into agriculture to support food production and reduce inflation.

Morka also noted the launch of the Student Loan Act, which he said would provide millions of Nigerian students with access to higher education without financial barriers.

Fielding questions from journalists, Morka defended the government’s decisions, saying: “We understand Nigerians are going through tough times, but it’s the price we must pay now to avoid worse crises tomorrow. President Tinubu is not playing politics—he is laying the foundation for a lasting legacy.”

He dismissed criticisms from opposition parties, accusing them of hypocrisy and reminding the public that many of them were complicit in the economic problems Nigeria faces today.