President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigerians have “finished making sacrifices” for the country to become great again, while asking citizens to give his administration more time to complete its programmes and reforms.
Tinubu made the remarks through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during a special Juma’at prayer at the National Mosque in Abuja on Friday, September 25, 2026, ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Vanguard reported on Saturday, September 26, 2026, that Abbas, who represented Tinubu at the prayer, conveyed the President’s message that Nigeria was on the right path and that peace and development were returning to the country.
“I want to categorically make it clear that Nigeria is on the right path. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Nigeria has finished making sacrifices for this country to be great again,” Abbas quoted Tinubu as saying, according to Vanguard’s September 26, 2026 report.
TheCable, in its report published on September 25, 2026, also quoted Tinubu as saying his administration was correcting what he described as the cumulative mistakes and missed opportunities of previous governments.
“More importantly, citizens should look at the focus of the government of today, that the mistakes of the past, the cumulative mistakes and the missed opportunities of the past, are being corrected in this particular administration,” Tinubu said in the message delivered by Abbas, according to TheCable.
The President also urged Nigerians not to lose hope, saying peace and development would return as the country continued its democratic journey.
“My message to the country on behalf of Mr President, the Senate President and all members of the National Assembly is that the citizens should not lose hope. Peace is coming back to this country. Development is coming back to this country. Things will get better as we progress in this democracy,” Abbas said while conveying the message, according to a September 25, 2026 report by New Telegraph.
Tinubu also asked Nigerians to give his administration more opportunity to complete what he described as the good work it had started.
“We should give this government more opportunity for it to come back and finish the good work,” he said, according to TheCable’s September 25, 2026 report.
The President described Nigeria’s 66 years of independence as a significant milestone, saying the country had matured despite the challenges and missed opportunities recorded since independence.
“This anniversary, the 66th, by all accounts signifies Nigeria has come of age,” Tinubu said, according to report.
Abbas, speaking after the prayer session, similarly urged Nigerians to remain hopeful about the country’s future. New Telegraph reported on September 25, 2026, that the Speaker said peace and development were gradually returning and called for continued support for the administration’s efforts.
The special prayer session was attended by senior government officials, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly and military chiefs, according to reports published by TheCable and New Telegraph on September 25, 2026.
Tinubu’s message comes as his administration continues to seek public support for its reform programme, with the President maintaining that the difficult adjustments Nigeria has undergone are paving the way for a better economic future.
