President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday said the federal government has disbursed N330 billion to eight million Nigerian households under its social investment programme.

Tinubu made the disclosure in a national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, stressing that his administration remains committed to shielding the country’s most vulnerable from hardship.

“Under the social investment programme to support poor households and vulnerable Nigerians, N330 billion has been disbursed to eight million households, many of whom have received either one or two out of the three tranches of the N25,000 each,” Tinubu said from the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The president, who has faced criticism since scrapping fuel subsidies and unifying the foreign exchange market in 2023, defended his reforms as difficult but necessary steps to rescue Africa’s largest economy from collapse.

Tinubu acknowledged that the reforms triggered inflation and strained household budgets but insisted that “yesterday’s pains are giving way to relief” as fiscal and monetary measures begin to stabilise the economy.

Official data showed Nigeria’s inflation slowed to 20.12 percent in August, the lowest in three years, while GDP growth in the second quarter of 2025 hit 4.23 percent the fastest pace in four years.

According to Tinubu, the removal of subsidies freed up trillions of naira for investments in education, healthcare, security, agriculture, and infrastructure, alongside targeted social programmes such as the N25,000 cash transfers.

The scheme, introduced in 2023, was designed to provide temporary relief to low-income families grappling with rising food and energy costs. The president said it has already reached millions across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Beyond cash support, he highlighted youth-focused initiatives including student loans under NELFUND, credit facilities for National Youth Service Corps members, and the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme, describing Nigeria’s young population as the greatest assets of this blessed country.

Tinubu urged citizens to embrace productivity and innovation while assuring them that the government would “channel saved resources into critical areas like food security, electricity, education, and healthcare.”

“On this anniversary, my message is hope and a call to action, we must be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us believe once more in the boundless potential of our great nation.” he said.