President Bola Tinubu has declared that the next phase of his administration’s reform will be focused on reducing the cost of living, creating jobs and ensuring that the benefits of economic growth were widely shared.

President Tinubu gave the assurance in his Independence Day address to mark Nigeria’s 66th anniversary, titled “From Reform to Prosperity”, in which he defended the economic policies of his administration and urged Nigerians to stay the course.

Tinubu said the reforms undertaken since his assumption of office had corrected the country’s economic direction, describing them as painful but necessary treatment for longstanding structural problems.

Using a cancer patient as an analogy, the President said Nigeria had for too long treated the symptoms of its economic problems rather than confronting their underlying causes.

“By 2023, poverty was rising, and hope was nearly gone. The country’s situation was darker than ever. We had no choice but to act,” he said.

Tinubu said previous administrations had chosen “morphine” by sustaining inefficient arrangements and postponing difficult decisions, while his administration chose to “excise the cancer”.

He acknowledged that the reforms had produced painful “side effects”, but argued that the hardship should not be confused with the underlying economic problems they were designed to address.

“Our reforms did not create the weaknesses in our economy. They confronted them,” he said, while warning against attempts to reverse the policies and return to what he described as the “abuse of addictive subsidies”.

The President’s speech came as some stakeholders and analysts regretted that, despite various reforms embarked upon by successive Federal Governments, the country was yet to come out of the woods economically and socially.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate release of five men arrested in Borno State for wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan “Tinubu Must Go.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate condemned the arrests, describing the slogan as a legitimate political expression rather than a crime. He argued that wearing a T-shirt with a political message should not lead to detention in a democracy.

The five men — identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed — were reportedly arrested by the Borno State Police Command in Maiduguri and charged with offences including criminal conspiracy and inciting disturbance.

Atiku recalled that President Bola Tinubu had previously protested against the fuel pricing policies of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. He insisted that Nigerians must equally be free to express dissatisfaction with current government policies.

“‘Tinubu Must Go’ is a demand for political change. It is not a weapon, a threat or a crime,” Atiku said. “Tinubu was free to tell Jonathan that his policies were hurting Nigerians. Nigerians must be free to tell Tinubu that his policies are hurting them. Release these five citizens now.”

He called on the authorities to disclose the detainees’ whereabouts, grant them access to their families and lawyers, and free them if the political slogan was the sole basis for their arrest.

The Federal Government has officially declared Thursday, October 1, a public holiday across the country to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence Day anniversary.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the government directed all ministries, departments, and agencies of government, as well as private sector organisations, to observe the day as a work-free day. The declaration follows the long-standing tradition of marking October 1 as a national holiday in celebration of the nation’s independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960.

The announcement comes as Nigerians prepare to reflect on 66 years of nationhood. Independence Day remains one of the most significant dates on the national calendar, serving as a moment for citizens to honour the sacrifices of the founding fathers and to reaffirm commitment to unity, peace, and progress.

Government officials have urged Nigerians to use the holiday to engage in peaceful celebrations, community activities, and patriotic reflection. Security agencies have also been directed to maintain law and order throughout the period to ensure a peaceful observance of the anniversary.

As the nation marks another year of independence, the Federal Government called on all citizens to remain committed to the ideals of democracy, national cohesion, and sustainable development.