President Bola Tinubu on Friday marked his third year in office, having been sworn in as president on May 29, 2023. His assumption of office after the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari came with enormous hopes and expectations from Nigerians. Many citizens were justifiably optimistic that Tinubu’s presidency would usher in better days and provide solutions to some of the country’s longstanding problems.
Three years down the line, however, Nigerians remain sharply divided over the direction and impact of his administration. Supporters point to bold economic reforms, renewed infrastructure ambitions, and efforts to stabilise public finances as evidence of courageous leadership willing to confront problems previous administrations repeatedly avoided. Critics, on the other hand, see a nation weighed down by worsening hardship, persistent insecurity, high inflation, and deepening public frustration.
In many ways, Tinubu’s presidency has become a study in contrasts: ambitious reforms on one hand and painful social consequences on the other. Three years after the Renewed Hope Agenda was launched, the major question confronting Nigerians is whether the sacrifices demanded by the administration are gradually laying the foundation for recovery—or merely deepening the burdens of everyday life for millions of citizens.
The major policy decisions taken by the present administration so far include fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms, tax and fiscal adjustments, and infrastructure financing efforts. There is no denying the fact that Tinubu boldly and stubbornly took politically risky decisions that previous administrations avoided for years. This became evident within his first few hours in office when he famously declared during his inauguration speech that “subsidy is gone.” That singular declaration has continued to produce spiral effects across the economy, with fuel prices becoming a major determinant of the rising cost of goods and services nationwide.
This administration has also not failed in blowing its own trumpet by highlighting areas where it claims progress has been recorded under Tinubu’s leadership. In terms of infrastructure, the government points to ongoing road projects, rail and transport initiatives, and renewed attention to critical national projects. On fiscal reforms, the administration gives itself credit for increased government revenues, efforts to reduce the subsidy burden, and greater emphasis on non-oil revenue generation. Government officials also frequently point to attempts to attract foreign investment and policy efforts aimed at economic restructuring. The administration consistently argues that painful reforms are necessary if Nigeria is to achieve long-term economic stability and sustainability.
One glaring reality—which even the government itself has not denied—is the severe economic hardship accompanying these reforms. Ordinary citizens continue to struggle with rising food prices, inflation, declining purchasing power, escalating transport costs following subsidy removal, and increasing pressure on middle- and lower-income households. For average Nigerians, governments are often judged not by macroeconomic theories or policy projections, but by the realities of daily survival.
Irrespective of whatever the government and its handlers may say, security remains a major concern across the country. Nigeria continues to grapple daily with killings, kidnappings, banditry, school abductions, and attacks on communities, alongside growing concerns about the expansion of criminal activities into new regions. This is not to suggest that security forces are doing nothing. In fact, the situation could have been far worse without their patriotic efforts and sacrifices. One cannot fairly ignore visible military successes recorded in certain areas. Yet, despite these gains, insecurity remains widespread, persistent, and psychologically exhausting for many Nigerians. Security, therefore, remains one of the administration’s biggest and most critical tests.
Electricity has also remained a persistent national frustration. While it can be argued that successive governments faced similar challenges, this administration has unfortunately joined the long list of those that have so far failed to fundamentally fix the problem. Nigerians have repeatedly endured increases in electricity tariffs without corresponding improvements in stable power supply. Businesses and households still rely heavily on generators—at least for those who can still afford the rising cost of fuel. The recurring collapse of the national grid also remains deeply concerning. It is a well-established fact that no meaningful economic growth can occur without reliable electricity.
The politics surrounding Tinubu’s third anniversary are equally revealing. The ruling All Progressives Congress continues to present the administration’s reforms as necessary, bold, and visionary, while opposition figures insist that hardship has worsened significantly under the current government. There is presently an intense debate over whether the current pain being experienced by citizens will eventually produce future gains. Clearly, the political battle over Tinubu’s legacy has already begun ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As the administration gradually rounds off its first term, what Nigerians expect in the remaining one year is not hidden. Citizens want stronger and more decisive action against insecurity. They want visible and practical measures to ease economic hardship. They desire an improved electricity supply and expect to see clearer positive impacts of government reforms on ordinary lives. Nigerians want tangible relief and measurable improvement—not merely promises of future prosperity.
If Tinubu is re-elected in 2027, expectations will naturally become much higher. First terms are often defined by reforms, experimentation, and transitions, while second terms are usually judged more strictly by outcomes, delivery, and visible impact. Citizens may become far less patient with explanations and excuses in a second term. A renewed mandate would therefore come with even greater pressure on the administration to produce concrete and visible results.
One thing that should not be open to argument is the need for balance between reform and social welfare. Economic reforms may indeed be necessary, but reforms implemented without adequate social protection inevitably create resentment and public anger. It is therefore important for the government not only to communicate better but also to cushion the effects of hardship more effectively. Reform and compassion must go hand in hand.
Three years into Tinubu’s administration, the verdict remains unfinished. There is little doubt that his government has pursued some of the boldest economic reforms seen in recent years, but there is equally little doubt that many Nigerians are struggling heavily under the weight of those same policies.
The remaining one year presents an important opportunity for the administration to redirect greater attention toward areas that directly affect the everyday lives of citizens—security, electricity, and economic hardship. Ultimately, reforms gain legitimacy not merely from their ambition or boldness, but from their ability to improve living conditions and restore hope among the people. And if President Tinubu secures another four years in office, Nigerians will expect not just promises of future gains, but clearer evidence that the sacrifices of today are genuinely building a safer, more stable, and more prosperous nation.
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