In a New Year message broadcast to Nigerians at 7 am on Monday, the President urged Nigerians not to falter despite the tough times and difficulties they face.

“Dear Compatriots, take this from me: the time may be rough and tough, however, our spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last. We are made for this period, never to flinch, never to falter,” President Tinubu said.

“The socio-economic challenges of today should energize and rekindle our love and faith in the promise of Nigeria. Our current circumstances should make us resolve to work better for the good of our beloved nation.

“Our situation should make us resolve that this new year 2024, each and every one of us will commit to be better citizens.”

On May 29, moments after his inauguration, President Tinubu declared that fuel subsidy was gone, an announcement that immediately pushed up the price of petrol.

He would go on to announce the float of the naira, a move aimed at the unification of the foreign exchange windows which saw the value of the naira plummet with the naira now trading at up to 1,000 naira/dollar and fuel price falling from N187 to above N600 in most parts of the country.

While many have blamed these actions for increased hardship in the country, the President once again defended his actions as part of moves to better the economy.

“Everything I have done in office, every decision I have taken, and every trip I have undertaken outside the shores of our land, since I assumed office on 29 May 2023, have been done in the best interest of our country,” the President said.

Over the past seven months of our administration, I have taken some difficult and yet necessary decisions to save our country from fiscal catastrophe. One of those decisions was the removal of fuel subsidy which had become an unsustainable financial burden on our country for more than four decades.

“Another was the removal of the chokehold of few people on our foreign exchange system that benefited only the rich and the most powerful among us. Without doubt, these two decisions brought some discomfort to individuals, families, and businesses.”

Nigeria’s economic and security challenges have attracted criticism for the Tinubu administration and it is commonplace to see citizens decrying the standard of living in the country with labour unions pushing for better welfare for members. Many have wondered if the President is even aware of what they go through.

The President says he understands the situation.

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“On every foreign trip I have embarked on, my message to investors and other business people has been the same. Nigeria is ready and open for business.

I will fight every obstacle that impedes business competitiveness in Nigeria and I will not hesitate to remove any clog hindering our path to making Nigeria a destination of choice for local and foreign investments.”

Assuring Nigerians that measures are in place for proper evaluation and that his ambition is to build a fair and equitable society for the country, President Tinubu called on Nigerians to play their part.

He said, “For the new year to yield all its good benefits to us as individuals and collectively as a people we must be prepared to play our part. The job of building a prosperous nation is not the job of the President, Governors, Ministers, Lawmakers and government officials alone.

“Our destinies are connected as members of this household of Nigeria. Our language, creed, ethnicity and religious beliefs even when they are not same should never make us work at cross purposes.

“In this new year, let us resolve that as joint-heirs to the Nigerian Commonwealth, we will work for the peace, progress and stability of our country. I extend this call to my political opponents in the last election. Election is over. It’s time for all of us to work together for the sake of our country.

“We must let the light each of us carries – men and women, young and old – shine bright and brighter to illuminate our path to a glorious dawn.

I wish all of us a happy and prosperous year 2024.”