As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks two years in office, Nigeria stands at a historic crossroads—not of despair, but of transformation. The journey from May 29, 2023, to date has been revolutionary, led by a bold leader who dared to confront Nigeria’s most entrenched challenges and reimage the possibilities of governance, economic stability, and national progress.
From the outset, President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was more than a slogan; it was a comprehensive vision to recalibrate a system long weighed down by subsidies, rent-seeking, debt traps, and dwindling investor confidence. The path he chose was not the easy one, but it was necessary—and today, the results are beginning to speak for themselves.
Economic Reforms that Rescued a Teetering Nation
Before President Tinubu’s inauguration, Nigeria’s economy was unsustainable. Subsidies on fuel, electricity, and the naira, coupled with massive debt servicing, pushed the country to the brink. Tinubu’s immediate decision to remove fuel subsidies and unify the exchange rate was a courageous leap that triggered short-term hardships but initiated long-term gains.
Today, those reforms are bearing fruit. Domestic crude refining has rebounded, with the Dangote Refinery and Port Harcourt facility now contributing to stable petroleum supply and lower PMS prices—down from over N1200/litre to around N890/litre.
Food inflation, once soaring above 40%, is stabilising, thanks to a combination of market deregulation, the import duty-free window, and improved security in farming regions. Farmers have returned to the fields, markets in bandit-hit areas like Birnin Gwari are reopening, and food prices are easing across the country.
For the first time in years, Nigeria’s Federation Account is witnessing record inflows, with states tripling their FAAC allocations. This has curbed excessive borrowing and allowed for more state-level investment in infrastructure and social services.
Tinubu’s monetary reforms have also restored investor confidence. Nigeria’s Eurobond issuance in late 2024 received over $9 billion in orders—four times the subscription level—while Fitch Ratings upgraded the country’s outlook from Negative to Stable.
Total trade volume reached N138 trillion in 2024, representing a 106% increase from 2023. Petroleum exports soared, and the country now boasts a trade surplus of N18.86 trillion. Foreign reserves are rising, with Net Foreign Exchange Reserves improving from $3.99 billion in 2023 to $23.11 billion today.
President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision has been energised by a cadre of ministers whose performance has been transformative. At the forefront is Barrister Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), whose leadership has turned the capital into a beacon of urban renewal.
Under Wike’s stewardship, the FCT has seen massive infrastructure development—from urban highways to rural feeder roads—boosting connectivity and livelihoods. Schools have been rehabilitated, security enhanced with over 100 vehicles provided to agencies, and investments surged, particularly in previously neglected rural districts.
Administrative reforms, including the creation of the Youth Development Mandate Secretariat, have strengthened governance, improved service delivery, and made the FCT more responsive to residents’ needs.
Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo: The Star Boy of the Cabinet
Few ministers have risen with such striking immediacy to the forefront of national admiration as Hon. (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Dubbed the “Star Boy” of the Tinubu administration, his stewardship of the Ministry of Interior has not only been administrative—it has been transformative. In a system often weighed down by bureaucratic inertia, Tunji-Ojo has carved a new path defined by digital innovation, institutional integrity, and people-centred delivery.
When he assumed office, Nigeria’s passport system was mired in delays, inefficiencies, and public frustration. But Tunji-Ojo approached this challenge with a technocratic precision and a citizen-first mentality. Within months, his team cleared a staggering backlog of over 204,000 passports, restoring dignity and predictability to the application process. Even more impressively, he pioneered a centralised passport production and contactless renewal system that has streamlined operations and eliminated waste—saving the nation over ₦800 million annually. Under his watch, Nigeria has now joined ICAO’s global security ecosystem, significantly enhancing the international acceptability of its travel documents and positioning the country for an e-Visa regime that promises speed, transparency, and security.
At the nation’s borders and entry points, a silent revolution has been unfolding. Forty electronic gates, deployed across major international airports, have ushered in a new era of automated, secure border control. These systems are not mere installations—they are symbols of a vision that aligns Nigeria with global standards while preserving national security. Tunji-Ojo’s leadership has also extended to strengthening terrestrial surveillance, with coverage now reaching over 60% of Nigeria’s 4,047-kilometre land border—a feat never before achieved.
His reformist energy has equally touched the soul of the correctional system. In collaboration with the private sector, his ministry secured ₦585 million in corporate social responsibility funds, enabling the release of over 4,000 inmates who had been languishing in detention solely due to their inability to pay fines. This move decongested correctional centres by 5% and saved the federal government over ₦1 billion in feeding and administrative costs. But more than the figures, it was a restoration of humanity—proof that justice must also be tempered with compassion. With biometric registration of all inmates now completed, the correctional system is evolving into a more secure, rehabilitative structure.
President Tinubu’s approval of a 50% upward review in inmates’ feeding allowance—implemented by the Interior Ministry—is another affirmation of this administration’s moral clarity on human dignity. Plans are underway to relocate 29 correctional centres that urban expansion has rendered unsuitable, reaffirming the government’s resolve to turn prisons into places of reform rather than warehouses of neglect.
The Federal Fire Service, long overlooked and underfunded, has emerged under Tunji-Ojo’s direction as a retooled force for emergency response. With new infrastructure, 15 rapid-response Ford vehicles, six heavy-duty trucks, and a remodeled training academy, fire service personnel are now better equipped to meet rising urban and rural risks. This modernization is not simply about equipment—it is about saving lives and protecting national assets with professionalism and urgency.
Equally significant is the reawakening of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Under Tunji-Ojo’s oversight, the Corps has dismantled over 1,000 illegal refineries and 200 oil bunkering sites. Its enforcement drive has yielded over 345 convictions, and new operational capacities—gunboats, surveillance vehicles, and 10,000 newly trained agro-rangers—now protect key assets, farms, and mining areas. These developments are not coincidental. They are the result of deliberate, structured leadership focused on national security and economic stability.
One of the more understated yet groundbreaking achievements has been the forensic audit and overhaul of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Tunji-Ojo’s ministry uncovered systemic fraud, including over 6,000 illegal NIN acquisitions by foreign nationals. His insistence on inter-agency collaboration and database integrity has helped safeguard national identity and contributed to the effective rollout of the Student Loan Initiative, which now supports over 18,000 Nigerian students through verified, secure identity channels.
Importantly, Tunji-Ojo has also addressed the long-standing morale issues among paramilitary personnel. For the first time in decades, promotion backlogs have been cleared, and a new special allowance has been instituted. Over 50,000 officers across various agencies have been promoted, sending a powerful message that service and loyalty will no longer go unrewarded.
What defines Tunji-Ojo’s tenure, however, is not merely the scope of reforms but the spirit behind them. His actions demonstrate that public office can indeed be a tool for genuine service—that systems can be made to work, and that leadership, when purposeful, can change lives. Through bold innovation and compassionate governance, he has turned a previously overlooked ministry into one of the engines of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Building Nigeria’s Backbone: David Umahi and National Infrastructure
In the Ministry of Works, Senator David Umahi has proven that technical expertise can deliver real change. His commitment to infrastructure renewal has been visible and impactful.
Umahi oversaw the successful reopening of the Third Mainland Bridge after critical maintenance and continues to lead on key national projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. His merit-based appointment has transcended political affiliations and regional sentiments, offering a unifying force for Nigeria’s development.
With frequent site visits and a hands-on approach, Umahi has earned praise for transparency, diligence, and commitment to quality infrastructure delivery.
Reviving the Skies: Keyamo’s Aviation Turnaround
When Festus Keyamo assumed the role of Minister of Aviation, Nigeria’s aviation sector was in turmoil. Through rigorous stakeholder engagement, safety revalidation of airlines, and regulatory reforms, Keyamo stabilised the industry.
He empowered the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to reassert global safety standards and restored confidence among passengers and operators alike. Keyamo’s quick diagnosis and bold interventions have put the sector on a path to growth and international credibility.
Two years into President Tinubu’s tenure, Nigeria is not just surviving—it is recalibrating for greatness. His leadership has ushered in difficult but necessary reforms, guided by a team of visionary ministers delivering results across sectors.
The road ahead will demand continued sacrifice and collective resolve, but Nigerians can take pride in a government that listens, adapts, and most importantly—acts. The Renewed Hope Agenda is no longer a promise. It is a reality in motion.
President Tinubu’s second anniversary is a testament to the power of courageous leadership, strategic reform, and commitment to national transformation.