President Bola Tinubu has responded to criticism from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), which warned of a looming national crisis due to rising youth unemployment and growing frustration among citizens.
During its first plenary meeting of 2025 in Abuja over the weekend, the CBCN expressed concerns about the state of the economy and governance.
In his address, CBCN President Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru highlighted serious issues such as youth unemployment, insecurity, poverty, corruption, and electoral fraud, which require urgent action to prevent the country from drifting into crisis. He stated, “The situation is compounded by mass layoffs resulting from the collapse of many companies due to a harsh and hostile economic climate. We cannot be weary in urging the government at all levels to take youth unemployment seriously. Without a massive and ongoing creation of jobs, the government will likely continue to struggle against insecurity and violent crime.”
In a statement released on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu acknowledged the bishops’ concerns but asserted that Nigeria has made remarkable progress in various sectors since he took office nearly two years ago.
According to the statement, insecurity in the country has significantly improved compared to 2023, with the military and security agencies eliminating over 8,000 criminals, including bandits, Boko Haram terrorists, and kidnappers. The presidency also noted that more than 10,000 Nigerians have been rescued from criminals. This improvement has been attributed to the strong leadership of the Tinubu administration, which has allowed security conditions in the North-West and North-East to improve, enabling farmers to return to their farmland. This increase in agricultural activity has led to higher food production and a reduction in the prices of essential goods.
The statement also emphasized that “on the economy, Tinubu’s administration has stabilized the economy from the precarious situation it inherited when he took office. Our balance of trade has improved, foreign reserves are stronger, inflation has moderated, our currency is gaining strength against convertible currencies, and local refining capacity has significantly increased due to the Dangote Refinery and the NNPCL Refineries in Port Harcourt and Warri coming online.”
Recognizing the importance of youth to national development and economic growth, President Tinubu’s administration has designed programs to promote youth employment, enhance capabilities, and harness ingenuity, creativity, and talent for better productivity. These programs—including NATEP, LEEP, IDiCE, NiYA, and the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund—aim to create over 10 million new jobs for young people.
The presidency noted that the country has significantly increased revenue collection and is mobilizing more local revenue to fund critical development priorities. Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is spending more on essential infrastructure such as roads, power, healthcare, education, and security. The unprecedented N54.9 trillion 2025 budget is intended to revitalize the economy and set it on a new growth trajectory.
Local and international institutions have continued to praise the Tinubu administration for implementing necessary reforms. Last week, Chatham House, a United Kingdom-based international affairs policy think tank, commended President Tinubu’s economic management team. In a recent article, Chatham House stated that Nigeria’s economy has become the most competitive it has been in 25 years due to Tinubu’s reforms.
While the government acknowledges that many Nigerians still face difficulties, it remains confident that the right decisions are being made to lead the country towards a better and more prosperous future. President Tinubu and his team are committed to working tirelessly on behalf of the citizens to fulfill the promise of a greater and stronger Nigeria. The Tinubu administration remains optimistic about the future and the ongoing positive changes in the country.
