President Bola Tinubu has asked Nigerians to give his administration more time to complete what he described as the work of correcting mistakes and missed opportunities inherited from previous governments.
Tinubu made the appeal on Friday through Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, at a special prayer session held at the National Mosque in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The president said the country was gradually returning to a path of peace and development, urging citizens not to lose hope despite the challenges facing the nation.
“This anniversary—the 66th—by all accounts signifies Nigeria has come of age,” Tinubu said in a message delivered by Abbas.
He described Nigeria’s journey since independence as mixed, noting that the country had faced several challenges while also recording opportunities over the years.
“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,” he said.
Tinubu said his administration believed Nigeria was moving in the right direction and that the sacrifices made by citizens would eventually yield results.
“I want to categorically make it clear that Nigeria is on the right path; that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
He also called on Nigerians to give his administration another opportunity to complete its programmes.
“We should give this government more opportunity for it to come back and finish the good work [it has started],” Tinubu said.
The prayer session was attended by senior government officials, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, state governors, members of the National Assembly, ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume and military chiefs.
The event formed part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th year of independence.
