President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that Nigeria is moving forward regardless of critics of his economic policies.

Tinubu disclosed this during his maiden media chat aired on Monday from Lagos.

This comes as the president insisted that the country is on a path of recovery despite economic hardship.

Speaking on the 2025 N49.7 trillion budget proposal, he reiterated it is a restoration of hope.

He called for understanding and cooperation from Nigerians amid the prevailing economic realities.

“Nigeria is moving forward regardless of critics. This is a budget of restoration of hope, and Nigeria is on the path of recovery. We can’t finish the job in one calendar year,” he declared.

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to learn to manage by switching off their lights.

Tinubu advised that switching off lights would reduce electricity bills.

He spoke during his presidential media chat with journalists in Lagos State.

According to Tinubu: “It’s not negative to learn to manage. You learn to control your electricity bill, switch off the light, let’s learn to manage.”

The president also said he does not believe in price control and he won’t toe that path.

“I don’t believe in price control, we will work hard to supply the market,” he said.

Upon his assumption of power, Tinubu government had hiked the electricity tariff and removed the subsidy on fuel.

On April 3, 2024, the electricity regulator raised tariff for customers said to be under the Band A classification, with customers now paying N225 kilowatt per hour from N66.

This move was heavily criticized due to the further hardship it brought upon Nigerians.

Despite widespread criticism, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria is on the verge of recovery, citing successes in security, financial discipline, and grassroots development.

Tinubu stated this during his first Presidential Media Chat, which was broadcast nationwide.

During his speech, Tinubu emphasized security improvements, claiming significant progress in making previously dangerous routes safe to travel.

“Two decades of wanton killings have been addressed. Today, you can travel the roads. Before now, it was impossible,” he said, adding that the military remains vigilant against both internal and external threats to ensure the safety of citizens.

On fiscal management, the President emphasized the administration’s efforts to abandon the former “ways and means” paradigm, claiming that the government now runs with financial control and budgetary discipline.

“We have more revenue being generated and distributed,” Tinubu noted.