Nigeria has had leaders, but the cost of reform and the impatience that comes with it have been problems.
History shows that necessary decisions are put off, problems get worse, and when the time comes to fix things, people mistake the pain for the problem itself.
Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida are two leaders who show this tension better than most, and now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Babangida and Abacha: Change Under Command
Nigeria went through one of its biggest periods of structural adjustment under Ibrahim Babangida. The move of the federal capital to Abuja, the building of the Presidential Villa in Asokoro, the creation of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the opening up of important sectors all showed a leadership style based on size, speed, and central authority. His government not only made changes to institutions, but also built up the country’s infrastructure and improved the rules for the financial sector. These changes set the stage for private-sector involvement that continues to shape Nigeria’s economy.
Sani Abacha then focused on discipline and fiscal control instead. Inflation went down, and foreign reserves went up quickly, from less than $500 million to several billion dollars. His government also worked on fiscal consolidation without using IMF programs, showing that they wanted to be economically independent. Through ECOMOG, Nigeria showed its power in the region, and infrastructure grew in important areas.
But both times were marked by one thing: command governance. Decisions were made quickly, and actions were taken right away. However, there wasn’t much disagreement, and the depth of the institution was still weak.
Their legacies live on, not just as successes or failures, but as examples of what centralized power can do and what it can stop.
Obasanjo and Buhari: From Command to Consensus
The return to democracy in Nigeria under Olusegun Obasanjo was a big change. Obasanjo stabilized Nigeria’s place in the world by leading the country as a military leader and then as a civilian president. He got debt relief, strengthened institutions, and opened up telecommunications, which led to one of the country’s biggest economic growth spurts.
Muhammadu Buhari came next, and he focused on discipline and infrastructure. His government built the Second Niger Bridge and made the rail and road networks bigger, all while dealing with big security and economic problems.
But both administrations show an important difference: democratic government makes decisions more slowly, but it also makes them more legitimate.
Tinubu: Change without the protection of command
On May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said, “Subsidy is gone.”
It wasn’t a small change in policy; it was a break.
It wasn’t the end of Nigeria’s problems; it was the end of the subsidies.
The government went even further within days by signing a law that decentralized electricity, ending decades of centralized control. Three years later, 11 states have moved to regulatory transition frameworks for generating and distributing electricity. This is a sign that the power economy is moving toward decentralization.
These actions weren’t done in a vacuum. They were changes to the structure.
Nigeria’s position was weak at the time of the change. Paying off debt took up almost all of the federal government’s money. Oil production had dropped to about 1 million barrels a day. Most importantly, net usable foreign reserves were thought to be less than $4 billion, even though the gross numbers were higher (Source: Central Bank of Nigeria / Reuters, 2025–2026).
That truth has changed.
By the end of 2025, net reserves had grown to $34.8 billion, and by early 2026, gross reserves were close to $50 billion (Source: Central Bank of Nigeria; Reuters, March 2026).
The National Bureau of Statistics says that GDP growth rose to 3.4% in 2024 and 4.23% in the second quarter of 2025.
Fitch raised Nigeria’s sovereign rating to B with a Stable outlook, saying that the country’s policies were more credible (Source: Fitch Ratings, April 2025 & 2026).
These are not the final results, but they are strong signs of where things are going.
From Policy to Action
Reform must lead to clear progress.
The Kaduna–Kano rail corridor was only 15% finished in 2023, but by September 2025 it was 53% finished, and by 2026 it was about 60% finished (Source: Federal Ministry of Transportation).
The Kano–Maradi rail line went from being about 5% done to 61% done (Source: Federal Ministry of Transportation, 2025 reports).
Major highway projects that have been on hold for a long time are now moving forward. According to the Federal Ministry of Works (2025 update), Section 1 of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is about 70% finished, and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway is now being built.
These projects are not just one-time things; they are the lifeblood of the economy.
When they are done, they will change the way goods move, lower the cost of moving goods, and make the country more united, especially in the north of Nigeria.
Governance and the Realities of Money
By 2025–2026, the administration’s plan was clearer: reform based on governance that puts people first.
President Tinubu said:
“The people of a country are its greatest strength, especially at the grassroots level.”
This is shown in fiscal policy.
In June 2025, there was N4.232 trillion available for distribution across the federation (Source: Federal Ministry of Finance / FAAC communiqué, June 2025). This made all levels of government more liquid and gave states more power to meet their obligations and pay for social programs.
States used to have to rely on bailouts to pay for salaries and pensions, but that need has lessened.
The creation of development commissions in all six geopolitical zones is also a clear sign that the government wants to focus on development that is specific to each region and starts at the bottom.
On Borrowing and the Direction of the Economy
People who say the government is “borrowing without clarity” are missing an important point.
A part of borrowing goes to paying off and refinancing old debts, which is something that has to be done. The risk is instability without it.
The more important question is how resources are used.
You can see spending in many areas, such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, energy, and support for local governments. These are investments in capital and society, not just spending.
In a nation with profound structural deficits, borrowing is not the peril—misallocation is.
A Professional Way to Run Things
Tinubu’s way of thinking is professional: a system that is out of balance can’t last; it needs to be fixed.
Removing subsidies, unifying exchange rates, changing the tax system, and redistributing money are not random policies; they are all part of a plan to fix things.
He said:
“The changes we are making are hard, but they are necessary for Nigeria’s long-term stability and growth.”
The Next Step in Reform: Security, Sovereignty, and
Reform of the economy alone is not enough. Security is the most important thing for national stability.
As the economy gets better, the next step should be to make Nigeria’s Armed Forces stronger by investing in them, reorganizing them, and building their skills so they can defend the country’s sovereignty without relying on outside help.
We must protect economic progress.
We must protect our sovereignty.
The Argument for Continuity
The question is no longer whether change was needed.
The question is if it will last.
Nigeria’s policy history is full of reversals, with reforms being stopped before they have a chance to work.
Things that are happening now are different.
The foundation has been laid, as shown by the amount of structural intervention that has happened in the last three years. The benefits aren’t all there, and the problems are real, but things have changed.
Continuity isn’t a political argument; it’s a policy need.
The National Patriots
The National Patriots say again that building a nation takes more than just opinions. It takes a different point of view, discipline, and a willingness to see how important leadership decisions are in the right context.
Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR, says:
“A country that only judges its leaders by how hard it is to change runs the risk of missing out on the chance to change.” Patriotism isn’t blind loyalty; it’s the maturity to see sacrifice, the discipline to handle change, and the wisdom to back what will keep the future safe.
Nigerians need to fight against stories that make people more divided or weaken the country’s resolve at a time when global alliances are changing and the economy is adjusting. Progress is only possible through constructive engagement, not automatic opposition.
Leaders have a duty to do something.
Citizens have a duty to understand.
Nigeria’s long-term stability, progress, and independence depend on that balance.
Conclusion: More than Comfort
Comfort does not change countries.
They are changed by correction that lasts long enough to have an effect.
Not being popular at the time is the real test of leadership. It’s having the courage to act when it matters and the discipline to see reform through.
Nigeria is at that point again.
Nigeria doesn’t need direction; it needs to keep moving forward. And in reform, momentum is the most important thing.
Hon. Dr. Philip “Okanga” Agbese, a transformative leader in Enone. Discover his achievements, community projects, and vision for 2027
