We’re correcting past mistakes, Nigeria is on right path — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to give his administration more time, saying it is addressing what he described as accumulated mistakes and missed opportunities from previous governments.

Tinubu made the call on Friday through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at a special Juma’at prayer held at the National Mosque in Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The President said Nigerians should remain hopeful, arguing that peace and development were gradually returning to the country.

He described Nigeria’s 66 years since independence as a mixed journey marked by challenges and opportunities.

“Nigeria was bedevilled with a lot of issues in the past and opportunities as well. But we thank Almighty Allah for granting us the life and the peace for us to witness this very historic event today,” he said.

Tinubu, in the message delivered by Abbas, urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country’s future.

“My message to the country on behalf of the Mr president, the senate president and all members of the national assembly is that the citizens should not lose hope. Peace is coming back to this country. Development is coming back to this country. Things will get better as we progress in this democracy,” he said.

The President said his administration was working to address what he described as the cumulative mistakes and missed opportunities of previous administrations.

“More importantly, citizens should look at the focus of the government of today, that the mistakes of the past—the cumulative mistakes and the missed opportunities of the past—are being corrected in this particular administration,” he said.

He added that the country was “on the right path” and urged Nigerians to allow his administration to continue its work.

“We should give this government more opportunity for it to come back and finish the good work [it has started],” Tinubu said.

The remarks come as the Federal Government presents its economic reform programme as having moved from an initial phase of difficult adjustments towards consolidation, growth and improved living standards.

Senior government officials, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, governors, federal lawmakers, ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume and military chiefs, attended the prayer session.

The Federal Government has scheduled a nationwide broadcast by Tinubu for October 1 as part of activities marking the 66th Independence Anniversary.