Evidence Shows Nigeria Is Moving In The Right Direction – Akume

The federal government has declared that Nigeria is headed in the right direction under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.

Naija News reports that the declaration was made on Tuesday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, during a press conference in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2026 Democracy Day celebration.

According to him, while the government acknowledges the pain and challenges citizens are facing as a result of ongoing economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, every challenge will be surmounted, and the country will be better for it.

Akume submitted that recent economic indicators suggested improvements in key sectors and that the reforms will bear good fruit.

“The government, though with all hands on deck, would never claim that every challenge has been solved. While we pursue various reforms diligently, with purpose and with compassion, the government recognises that inflation has been painful, though it is on a downward trend. Government is similarly conscious of the fact that insecurity still threatens lives and livelihoods.”

While acknowledging public concerns over the cost of living and security, the SGF insisted that government reforms were beginning to yield results.

“Evidence shows that the country is moving in the right direction,” he added.

To buttress his point, Akume cited economic figures which stated that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.07 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.

Social Intervention

The SGF added that the government has invested heavily in various social intervention programmes, including cash transfers, student loans and consumer credit initiatives introduced since 2023 to cushion the effect of the policies on Nigerians.

According to him, more than one million students have benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, with over ₦184bn disbursed for tuition and upkeep.

He also said millions of households had been reached through the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer programme, while government-backed credit schemes had expanded access to formal financing.

The administration further defended its fiscal reforms, including tax measures signed into law in 2025, arguing that the policies were aimed at improving revenue generation and strengthening accountability in public finance.

Anti-corruption

On anti-corruption efforts, Akume said anti-graft agencies had continued to recover proceeds of crime and prosecute offenders, adding that recovered funds had contributed to financing the student loan scheme.

He also linked Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list in October 2025 to reforms in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.

“Accountability in this administration is sacrosanct,” he said.

Insecurity

Akume acknowledged the security challenges facing the country but highlighted the government’s continued resolve to tackle them.

“We continue to confront internal security challenges. Government will not pretend that insecurity will disappear today without the active support of all Nigerians,” the SGF stated.

He pledged the continued commitment of the Tinubu administration to expanding the capacity of the armed forces and other security agencies through increased recruitment and funding.

The SGF also emphasized the need to promote national unity despite Nigeria’s diversity.

“In a country as diverse and plural as ours, development is strongest when trust is stronger than division,” he said.

He noted that the government continued to support interfaith dialogue through the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council and recently approved a National Values Charter aimed at promoting citizenship, tolerance and national cohesion.

2027 Elections

As Nigerians head to the polls in 2027 to choose their next set of leaders, Akume maintained that the incumbent administration has performed well and Nigerians will be the judge at the polls.

“Our responsibility is to finish what we commenced in 2023, and as we go into the cycle for the 2027 general elections seeking a revalidation of our mandate, we shall scale what is working.

“This government remains prepared to be judged by evidence,” Akume stated.