KEY POINTS

• Tinubu touts improved security, which makes it possible to be safer traveling across Nigeria.
• Fiscal reforms are financial discipline and increasing the amount of money generated by the government.
• However, Local government autonomy hailed as a critical step for grassroots development.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated on Thursday that the country is rebounding, pointing to strides in security, fiscal discipline and grassroots development during his first showcase Presidential Media Chat.

Tinubu continuously faced criticism but stood confident of his administration’s direction stressing that, things are still under progress.

It has addressed two decades of wanton killings. You can travel the roads today. “It was impossible before now,” Tinubu said, crediting better security measures and military vigilance for making travel conditions in the country safer.

Recovery efforts are driven by fiscal reforms and grassroots autonomy

But Tinubu also pointed to advances in fiscal management, saying his administration is finally breaking with its reliance on the unsustainable model of “ways and means” borrowing. He said the government vows to maintain financial discipline in order to reclaim the national recovery.

The President underscored the new autonomy of local governments, an achievement he has long championed in the country’s decentralization process.

This, he said, could be proved by his tenure as Lagos State Governor when he was at when he had conflicts with the Obasanjo administration on creating more local councils.

Tinubu acknowledged existing challenges and promised Nigerians of steady progress. Death dengue didn’t finish job in one calendar year, and he wasn’t giving an excuse, it’s only 18 months.

Nigerians are expected to discuss widely the administration’s achievements, challenges and plans for the country’s future in the address.