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READ FULL TEXT: Tinubu speaks on $1trn economy, youth confab, taming inflation in New Year message
In his New Year message to Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu spoke on the economic outlook for the country in 2025 and the prospective interventions of his administration. The president also announced plans for the upcoming youth conference and his intention to unveil the National Values Charter, among other issues.
Here is the full text of the president’s New Year message.
Fellow Nigerians,
As we enter 2025, I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. May you be rich in joy, success, and good health.
As the new year dawns, it brings many hopes, aspirations, and prospects for better days. By the grace of God, 2025 will be a year of great promise in which we will fulfill our collective desires.
Though 2024 posed numerous challenges to our citizens and households, I am confident that the New Year will bring brighter days.
Economic indicators point to a positive and encouraging outlook for our nation. Fuel prices have gradually decreased, and we recorded foreign trade surpluses in three consecutive quarters. Foreign reserves have risen, and the Naira has strengthened against the US dollar, bringing greater stability.
The stock market’s record growth has generated trillions of naira in wealth, and the surge in foreign investment reflects renewed confidence in our economy. Nevertheless, the cost of food and essential drugs remained a significant concern for many Nigerian households in 2024.
In 2025, our government is committed to intensifying efforts to lower these costs by boosting food production and promoting local manufacturing of essential drugs and other medical supplies. We are resolute in our ambition to reduce inflation from its current high of 34.6% to 15%. With diligent work and God’s help, we will achieve this goal and provide relief to all our people.
In this new year, my administration will further consolidate and increase access to credit for individuals and critical sectors of the economy to boost national economic output.
To achieve this, the federal government will establish the National Credit Guarantee Company to expand risk-sharing instruments for financial institutions and enterprises.
The Company—expected to start operations before the end of the second quarter—is a partnership of government institutions, such as the Bank of Industry, Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Agency, and Ministry of Finance Incorporated, the private sector, and multilateral institutions.
This initiative will strengthen the confidence of the financial system, expand credit access, and support under-served groups such as women and youth. It will drive growth, re-industrialisation, and better living standards for our people.
On a personal note, thank you for placing your confidence in me as your president. Your trust humbles me, and I promise to continue serving you diligently and wholeheartedly.
We will continue to embark on necessary reforms to foster sustainable growth and prosperity for our nation.
I seek your cooperation and collaboration at all times as we pursue our goal of a one trillion-dollar economy. Let us stay focused and united.
We are on the right path to building a great Nigeria that will work for everyone. Let us not get distracted by a tiny segment of our population that still sees things through the prisms of politics, ethnicity, region, and religion.
CITIZENSHIP
To achieve our national goals and objectives, we must become better citizens and uncompromising in our devotion and allegiance to Nigeria.
Citizens’ moral rectitude and faith in our country are fundamental to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda. In 2025, we will commit to promoting adherence to ethical principles, shared values, and beliefs under the National Identity Project.
I will unveil the National Values Charter, already approved by the Federal Executive Council, in the first quarter of 2025. I will launch an ambitious national orientation campaign that fosters patriotism and love for our country and inspires citizens to rally together. The Charter will promote mutual commitments between the government and citizens and foster trust and cooperation among our diverse population and between the government and the citizens.
As far-reaching and foundational as our reforms are, they can produce the desired outcomes only through shared common values and identities and unconditional love for our country.
The Youth Confab will begin in the first quarter of 2025, a testament to our commitment to youth inclusiveness and investment as nation-builders. The Ministry of Youth will soon announce the modalities for selecting the conference’s representatives from our diverse, youthful population.
Dear Compatriots, I urge you to continue believing in yourselves and keeping faith in our blessed country.
Let me use this New Year’s message to urge our governors and local council chairpersons to work closely with the central government to seize emerging opportunities in agriculture, livestock, and tax reforms and move our nation forward. I commend governors who have embraced our Compressed Natural Gas initiative by launching CNG-propelled public transport. I also congratulate those who have adopted electric vehicles as part of our national energy mix and transition. The Federal Government will always offer necessary assistance to the states.
To all citizens, your sacrifices have not been in vain over the past 19 months. I assure you they will not be in vain even in the months ahead. Together, let us stay the course of nation-building.
The New Year will bring us closer to the bright future we all desire and the Nigeria of our dreams.
God bless you all, and may God bless our beloved country, Nigeria.
Happy New Year and a prosperous 2025 to you all!
Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
January 1, 2025.
News
Eight passengers injured as bus crashes into median in Lagos
At least eight people sustained varying degrees of injuries after a commercial bus, popularly known as a Molue, crashed into the road median at the Ahmadiya axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Friday.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Taofiq explained that the accident occurred when the bus driver veered off the road in an attempt to avoid colliding with pedestrians standing at the bus stop.
He added that the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to crash into the median and overturn, leading to injuries among the passengers and the driver.
Taofiq stated, “The accident was triggered when the vehicle, registered as KTU 801 XM, lost control due to excessive speed, reportedly caused by driver impatience.
“In an attempt to avoid colliding with another LT commercial bus and pedestrians waiting at the roadside, the driver veered sharply, resulting in the bus crashing into the expressway median and overturning.
“Eight individuals, including five men and three women, sustained varying degrees of injuries. Among the injured was the bus driver, who suffered a fractured left arm.”
“The injured victims were taken to Ile-Epo General Hospital thanks to the swift response of LASTMA personnel and officials from the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).
“LASTMA officers promptly arrived at the scene, executing a coordinated and efficient rescue operation.
“All victims were immediately handed over to LASAMBUS medical personnel and transported to the General Hospital at Ile-Epo for urgent medical attention,” Taofiq added.
Reacting to the incident, the LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, through Taofiq, sympathised with the injured and urged motorists to prioritise safety at all times.
“He emphasised the paramount importance of adhering strictly to traffic regulations, particularly compliance with speed limits as prescribed by the Lagos State Government.
“Mr Bakare-Oki also implored both commercial and private vehicle operators to prioritise regular vehicle maintenance, especially of critical systems such as brakes, to prevent avoidable accidents,” Taofiq noted.
News
Groom hospitalised after bride poisons food at wedding in Jigawa
The police command in Jigawa has arrested a woman for allegedly poisoning the food at her wedding.
The incident reportedly led to the death of one of the guests, with the groom left critically ill and hospitalised.
Lawan Adam, the Jigawa police command spokesperson, said the incident occurred in Jahun LGA, adding that an investigation has commenced.
He said the bride and another woman are being interrogated by the criminal investigation department of the command.
“We received a report that the bride had tainted the food served at the wedding reception, leaving the groom critically ill,” Adam said.
“Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged food poisoning incident that occurred during a wedding ceremony in the state.
“The command is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and we will provide more details as soon as possible.
“For now, we can confirm that the incident occurred, and we are working tirelessly to unravel the facts.
“We urge the public to remain calm and assured that justice will be served. We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.”
News
Abuja to experience blackout in January over relocation of transmission towers
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced that power supply in Abuja will be disrupted from January 6 to 21.
In a statement on Friday, AEDC said the expected blackout is due to the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) relocating feeder and transmission line towers along the outer southern expressway.
“Please be informed that there will be power interruptions from January 6 – 21, 2025, due to FCDA relocating the 33KV DC Airport Feeder and 132KV Kukwaba-Apo Transmission Line Towers along the Outer Southern Expressway,” AEDC said.
“The following areas will experience outages during the period of this exercise: Lugbe & environs, Airport Road, Kapwa, NNPC, Games Village, National Stadium, Eye Clinic, Indoor Complex, Christ Embassy Church, American International School, Spring Court, American Embassy Quarters, EFCC HQ, Coca Cola, Railway, FMC, Parts of Apo, Parts of Gudu, Gbazango & environs, Parts of Kubwa, Bwari & environs, Parts of Jahi, Parts of Jabi, Karu, Nyanya, Mararaba, Keffi & environs, and other parts of Abuja.”
The AEDC apologised for any inconvenience and expressed appreciation for the people’s understanding.
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