Media personality and broadcaster Rufai Oseni has launched a pointed criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 66th Independence Day address, questioning the administration’s presentation of Nigeria’s economic progress against the hardship many Nigerians continue to experience.
Oseni’s reaction came after President Tinubu, in his October 1, 2026 Independence Day address, defended his administration’s economic reforms and argued that Nigeria had moved from a period of difficult economic adjustment into what he described as an emerging “age of prosperity.” The President highlighted economic growth, foreign reserves, declining inflation, non-oil exports, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), social intervention programmes and other measures as evidence of progress.
However, Oseni’s criticism centres on what he sees as a disconnect between the government's economic narrative and the everyday reality of Nigerians.
According to the argument presented by Oseni, the President did not sufficiently acknowledge the depth of the hardship being experienced by ordinary Nigerians or the pressure created by the reforms introduced since 2023. He questioned the emphasis placed on indicators such as foreign reserves and government programmes when millions of Nigerians continue to contend with rising living costs and reduced purchasing power.
Oseni particularly questioned the consequences of the naira's substantial depreciation since the beginning of the Tinubu administration, arguing that the currency adjustment was justified as part of efforts to achieve economic stability, yet many Nigerians are still waiting to experience the promised benefits of that stability.
He also revisited the controversial removal of the petrol subsidy.
The argument made by Oseni is that Nigerians were repeatedly told that removing the subsidy would free up government resources, improve public finances and provide states with greater revenues. He therefore questioned why, despite the additional resources available to governments, various sectors continue to complain about inadequate funding.
The broader issue, he suggested, is not simply how much money governments receive in nominal terms, but what that money is actually worth after accounting for inflation and the naira-dollar exchange rate.
The Port Harcourt Refinery Question
Another major point raised was the controversy surrounding Nigeria's government-owned refineries, particularly the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The federal government and NNPC announced in November 2024 that the old Port Harcourt refinery had been restarted and that trucks had begun loading refined petroleum products. NNPC subsequently maintained that the facility was operational.
However, the sustainability of that restart has remained contentious. By 2025, NNPC acknowledged that the earlier decision to operate the Port Harcourt facility before completing its rehabilitation had been problematic and said further technical and financial reviews were required.
This has fuelled renewed questions over the enormous sums committed to Nigeria's refinery rehabilitation programme.
The federal government approved $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery, while approximately $1.48 billion was approved for the rehabilitation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries. Together, the three projects amounted to roughly $3 billion.
That distinction is important: the approximately $3 billion figure relates to the three-refinery rehabilitation programme, rather than Port Harcourt alone.
With the current status of the facilities still attracting controversy, Oseni's central question is straightforward: after billions of dollars were committed, where is the sustainable result for Nigerians?
The issue has also generated calls for greater accountability. Reports have indicated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has examined aspects of the refinery rehabilitation spending, including funds associated with Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri.
The controversy therefore goes beyond party politics. It raises fundamental questions about public expenditure, procurement, accountability and whether Nigerians are receiving value for money from major government projects.
A Challenge to Oyo Opposition Politics
Oseni's argument, as presented in the criticism, ultimately extends into partisan politics.
He questioned the position of opposition politicians in Oyo State, particularly members of the APC, who frequently raise allegations of corruption against rival political parties while questions remain around the management of major federal projects implemented under APC-led administrations.
For Oseni, the question is one of consistency: if corruption and accountability are important political issues, should the same standard not apply when examining controversies surrounding projects implemented by one's own political camp?
The debate sparked by his comments therefore goes beyond President Tinubu's Independence Day speech. It touches on a larger national conversation about the cost of economic reforms, the value of government spending, refinery rehabilitation, public accountability and the gap between macroeconomic indicators and the lived experiences of ordinary Nigerians.
President Tinubu, meanwhile, maintains that the reforms were necessary to correct longstanding economic distortions and says the country has now reached a stronger foundation from which broader prosperity can be achieved.
The contrasting positions leave Nigerians with a fundamental question: how should economic success ultimately be measured — by government statistics and macroeconomic indicators, or by whether ordinary citizens can actually feel an improvement in their daily lives?
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