President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has used his 2026 Democracy Day address to celebrate Nigeria’s 27 consecutive years of civilian rule, reaffirm commitment to economic reforms and security operations, and announce national honours for dozens of pro-democracy activists and military officers who played roles in the June 12 struggle.

Tinubu said Nigeria had achieved its longest uninterrupted period of civilian rule since the return to democracy on May 29, 1999, noting that political disagreements are now largely resolved through constitutional institutions rather than violence.

“Today, we celebrate not only democracy but also the enduring Nigerian spirit,” Tinubu said. “For 27 unbroken years, since May 29, 1999, Nigerians have chosen their leaders through the ballot, witnessed peaceful transitions of power, and resolved disagreements in courtrooms and legislative chambers—not through violence.”

The national honours recipients include two former The Guardian editors, Lade Bonuola and Femi Kusa.

Others are: Barrister Ayoka Lawani; Tunde Fagbenle; Oladele Alake; Olatunji Bello; Louis Odion; Segun Babatope; Sam Omatseye; Sir Ademola Osinubi; Bola Bolawole; Debo Adeniran; Chief Ayo Opadokun; Chief Ralph Obiora; Ose Osayande; Barrister Osa Director; Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine; Dr Arthur Nwankwo (Posthumous); Dr Osagie Obayuwana; Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin; Barrister Titus Mann; Joe Igbokwe; Richard Akinnola; Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous); George Mbah; Dr Niran Malaolu; Major-General Ishola Williams (rtd); Femi Aborisade; Jenkins Alumona; Gbemiga Ogunleye; Muyiwa Adekeye; Babajide Kolade-Otitoju; Ike Okonta

The “soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle” are: Major General MA Garba; Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa; Col Umar Farouk Ahmed; Col Sambo Dasuki; Col Lawan Gwadabe; Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong; Col Musa Shehu; Major General Chris Eze; Major General Harris Dzarma; Col Isa Jibrin; Maj. General Joseph Oshanupin; Col Olusegun Oloruntoba; Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus; Col J Okai; Col Emmanuel Ndubueze; Lt Col Yakubu Muazu; and Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar.

The President urged stakeholders to ensure peaceful and credible governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political parties to protect public confidence in the electoral process.

He also appealed to the National Assembly, judiciary, media and civil society organisations to continue defending democratic institutions, stressing that criticism and disagreement remain essential components of democracy.

Addressing young Nigerians, Tinubu urged them to invest their talents and aspirations in the country, encouraging them to build businesses, pursue careers and participate actively in the democratic process.

The President commended members of the armed forces, police and intelligence services for their sacrifices, while also acknowledging the roles played by traditional rulers, religious leaders and community heads in promoting peace and reconciliation across the country.

Tinubu devoted a significant portion of his address to security challenges, particularly the recent abductions of children in Oyo and Borno states, which he said had cast a shadow over this year’s Democracy Day celebrations.

“Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return,” he said.

REAFFIRMING his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity, the President said the government had declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers alongside thousands of military recruits.

According to him, the 2026 budget allocates N5.41 trillion to defence and security, representing the highest security expenditure in Nigeria’s history.

Tinubu said security operations had evolved from training exercises with international partners to precision-targeting missions against terrorist groups. He cited military action in Arege, Borno State, where he said the command centre of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had been degraded.

The President stated that terror-related deaths had fallen by 81 per cent since 2015 and that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised in the past year. He added that over 124,000 fighters and their dependents had surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.

Issuing a warning to criminal groups, Tinubu said bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terrorism must either surrender or face decisive action from the state.

“Crime has no ethnicity,” he said, urging Nigerians to remain united against insecurity and expressing confidence that the country would eventually overcome terrorism and violent crime.

Reflecting on the significance of June 12, the President said, “June 12 occupies a sacred place in our national memory. It represents more than an election; it is a defining chapter in our story. We remember Chief M.K.O. Abiola, who won a pan-Nigerian mandate transcending ethnicity and religion. We remember Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

“We also remember Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Alfred Rewane, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Frank Kokori, Arthur Nwankwo, Chima Ubani, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and the many other heroes and heroines of democracy whose sacrifices helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today.”

He added, “As beneficiaries of their struggle, we have a duty to strengthen and deepen the democratic institutions for which they fought. The greatest tribute we can pay is to build a Nigeria where freedom is protected, justice is upheld, opportunity is expanded, and government is accountable.”

TURNING to the economy, Tinubu said the central challenge facing the current generation was to secure economic freedom in the same way previous generations secured independence and democracy.

He argued that democracy must be reflected in the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians through employment opportunities, agricultural productivity, entrepreneurial success and improved welfare.

The President defended the economic reforms introduced since 2023, saying they were adopted out of necessity rather than convenience. According to him, the country inherited severe fiscal pressures, weak investor confidence and economic uncertainty.

He said reforms implemented by the administration had restored stability and credibility to economic management, increased federation revenues and provided state and local governments with greater resources for infrastructure, education, healthcare and security.

Tinubu also claimed that fiscal transparency had improved and that leakages in public finance had been reduced.

He further stated that investor confidence had strengthened, resulting in increased investments across agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining, transportation and the creative sector.

On energy, the President said domestic refining capacity had expanded, reducing dependence on imported petroleum products and improving energy security.

He described the electricity sector inherited by his administration as one burdened by generation shortfalls, unreliable gas supply, weak transmission infrastructure, heavy losses by distribution companies, a metering deficit exceeding four million customers and significant legacy debts.

Tinubu said the Electricity Act signed by his administration empowered states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity, while the Presidential Power Sector Task Force was working to reduce the metering gap.

He disclosed that the task force had been authorised to raise a N4 trillion bond to settle verified legacy debts in the sector.

The President added that the Rural Electrification Agency, with support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, had expanded off-grid and mini-grid electricity projects to underserved communities, markets, universities and hospitals.

He also highlighted infrastructure and agricultural initiatives, including the deployment of 10,000 tractors over five years through the National Agricultural Development Fund, certification of more than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises for export and a reported 21 per cent increase in non-oil exports last year.

Despite these developments, Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerians continue to experience economic hardship.

He said the government remained focused on reducing inflation, increasing food production, creating jobs and improving living standards, while rebuilding confidence in the economy.

The President also linked insecurity to weaknesses in grassroots governance and reiterated his administration’s support for financial autonomy for the country’s 774 local government councils.

As part of the Democracy Day celebrations, Tinubu announced the Federal Government’s approval of the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.

Concluding the address, Tinubu said Nigeria’s diversity, once viewed by many as a challenge to democratic survival, had become a source of democratic strength.

“The road ahead is steep,” he said. “But June 12 reminds us: Nigerians do not break. We bend, we bleed, but we do not break.”

He called on citizens to renew their commitment to national unity, democratic governance and prosperity, saying the task of the present generation is to secure a more prosperous future for all Nigerians.

ADC faults Tinubu’s record, says democracy must deliver security, prosperity
MEANWHILE, concerns over the state of the country’s democracy emerged yesterday as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) called for a frank assessment of the country’s democratic journey, while a nationwide survey revealed that a majority of Nigerians are dissatisfied with governance, citing insecurity, economic hardship and poor leadership.

The ADC called for a Nigeria where citizens live in safety and dignity, declaring that democracy should be measured by its impact on people’s lives rather than by the number of years since the end of military rule.

In an open letter to Nigerians to mark Democracy Day, the opposition party paid tribute to those who sacrificed and struggled for the democratic freedoms the country enjoys today.

The ADC described June 12 as one of the most significant dates in Nigeria’s history, saying it serves as a reminder that Nigerians have always believed their voices matter.

The party, however, argued that Democracy Day should go beyond commemorating past struggles and should also provide an opportunity for a frank assessment of the country’s current realities.

“Our Democracy Day must be more than a celebration of the past. It must also be an honest reckoning with the present.

“This is because democracy is not measured by the number of years since military rule ended. It must be measured by the meaning it has brought to citizenship and the freedoms it has brought to citizens – freedom from fear, freedom from poverty, freedom to participate and freedom to choose.

“It is about whether citizens are safer; whether families live better; whether young people get opportunities; whether institutions command public trust; and whether government remains accountable to the people from whom it derives its authority.”

The party said that 27 years after the return to democratic rule and three years into the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), many Nigerians remain dissatisfied with the state of the nation.

“Is your life better today than in the past? Do you feel safer today than you felt in the past? Do you trust the government more than before? The answer to these questions is no doubt painfully clear: a resounding no,” the party asked citizens.

In the letter signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said insecurity continues to affect large parts of the country, casting a shadow over the daily lives of many Nigerians.

The party maintained that democratic governance must translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ welfare, security and opportunities, stressing that the true test of democracy lies in its ability to improve the quality of life of the people.

72% of Nigerians dissatisfied with democracy, poll reveals
ALSO, a new public opinion survey conducted by NOIPolls has revealed widespread dissatisfaction with democratic governance in Nigeria, with 72 per cent of respondents expressing discontent with the country’s democratic system.

According to the survey, 46 per cent of Nigerians said they were “not satisfied at all” with democracy, while 26 per cent said they were “not satisfied”. In contrast, only 21 per cent expressed satisfaction, comprising nine per cent who were “very satisfied” and 12 per cent who were “satisfied”.

The poll showed that dissatisfaction was most pronounced in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones, where 58 per cent and 56 per cent of respondents respectively expressed discontent. The North-East recorded the lowest level of dissatisfaction at 33 per cent.

NOIPolls said the findings suggest that citizens’ perceptions of democracy are influenced by local experiences relating to governance, security and service delivery.

The survey identified increased insecurity as the leading reason for dissatisfaction among respondents, cited by 31 per cent. This was followed by poor dividends of democracy at 20 per cent, economic hardship at 19 per cent and poor governance at 17 per cent.

Among respondents who expressed satisfaction with democracy, freedom of expression emerged as the most significant factor, cited by 26 per cent. Other reasons included preference for democracy over military rule at 13 per cent, improved security at 11 per cent and good governance at 11 per cent.

The poll also highlighted the major obstacles to democratic progress in the country. Insecurity and poor governance or leadership were jointly identified as the most critical challenges, each cited by 25 per cent of respondents. The poor state of the economy accounted for 11 per cent, while corruption was cited by nine per cent.

According to the survey, the findings indicate that many Nigerians believe democracy has fallen short of delivering security, economic well-being and accountable leadership.

The poll further assessed public perceptions of government performance across key sectors, with security receiving the poorest rating. Seventy-two per cent of respondents rated performance in the security sector as “very poor”.

Electricity followed with a 57 per cent “very poor” rating, while foreign policy and the economy recorded 49 per cent and 48 per cent respectively.

Education recorded the highest positive assessment, with 22 per cent of respondents rating government performance in the sector as “good”. Infrastructure and science and technology followed with 21 per cent each.

The survey noted that while Nigerians acknowledge some progress in education and infrastructure, dissatisfaction remains high in areas directly affecting personal safety and livelihoods, contributing to declining confidence in democratic governance.

Nigeria remains import-dependent despite democratic reforms, says CPPE chief
IN a related development, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, urged the Federal Government to move Nigeria beyond an economy driven largely by consumption and import dependence towards one anchored on production, value addition and industrial competitiveness, noting that industrialisation cannot flourish in an environment of structural inefficiencies and policy uncertainty.

He regretted that, 27 years after the return to democratic governance, Nigeria’s manufacturing sector remains largely trapped in a low-growth equilibrium, with the sector’s contribution to GDP hovering around 9–10 per cent for most of the period, underscoring the absence of a decisive industrial transformation despite successive policy pronouncements and reform initiatives.

“Industrialisation is the engine room of economic transformation. It creates quality jobs, deepens value addition, strengthens export competitiveness and reduces vulnerability to external shocks. Yet, Nigeria’s democratic journey has delivered only modest industrial outcomes, leaving the economy heavily dependent on primary commodities and imports,” he said.

Lamenting the progressive erosion of industrial capacity across several sectors, he said the collapse of the nation’s public refineries remains perhaps the most striking example of institutional dysfunction and the loss of a critical pillar of industrialisation.

“The story is similar across several manufacturing subsectors. Textile mills that once employed hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have disappeared. The tyre industry collapsed. Battery manufacturing faded. Automobile assembly plants lost momentum. Many industrial clusters that once drove economic activity have either contracted significantly or vanished altogether. The consequence has been a gradual weakening of Nigeria’s industrial base and a growing dependence on imports for products that were once manufactured domestically,” he said.

Amid these challenges, however, he noted that a few sectors have demonstrated remarkable resilience, including the cement, food and beverage sectors, which have managed to survive despite an increasingly difficult operating environment.