Tinubu Vows Nigeria Will Resist Destabilization Efforts

 President Bola Tinubu declared on May 1, 2025, that Nigeria would not succumb to plots aimed at destabilizing the nation, speaking during a May Day rally in Abuja. Addressing 10,000 workers, he referenced recent security challenges, including 15,000 banditry-related deaths in the Northwest since 2020 and Boko Haram’s displacement of 2 million in the Northeast. 

Tinubu emphasized resilience, citing a 3.2% GDP growth forecast and $10 billion in foreign investments in 2024. He accused unidentified foreign and domestic actors of orchestrating unrest to undermine his administration, pointing to 50% fuel price hikes and 33.2% inflation as vulnerabilities exploited by detractors.

The president outlined measures to counter threats, including a $500 million defense budget increase for 2025, deploying 20,000 additional troops, and acquiring 50 new surveillance drones. He also highlighted economic reforms, like the naira’s 70% stabilization against the dollar since January, though 60% of Nigerians remain below the poverty line. Tinubu urged unity among the 180 ethnic groups, invoking the 1967-1970 civil war’s 1 million deaths as a cautionary tale. His remarks followed intelligence reports of planned protests in Lagos and Kano, with 5,000 arrests in 2024 for incitement.

The speech addressed labor demands for a 150% minimum wage hike, with Tinubu offering a 30% increase, citing fiscal constraints. He linked stability to infrastructure, noting $2 billion in road projects and 1,000 new schools. Critics, however, argue his policies favor elites, as 20 million children remain out of school. The administration’s 2023 subsidy removal, which spiked transport costs by 300%, remains contentious, with 40% of workers reporting income loss. Tinubu’s vow comes amid regional tensions, with ECOWAS reporting a 25% rise in West African insurgencies, threatening Nigeria’s 223 million population and its role as Africa’s largest economy.