President Bola Tinubu has said his administration has demonstrated a high level of tolerance for criticism, insisting that Nigerians can insult or attack him without fear of reprisals.
Tinubu stated this on Thursday at the centenary celebration of the Daily Times of Nigeria Limited in Abuja. He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
According to the President, the freedom to criticise his administration is central to the Renewed Hope Agenda and its commitment to press freedom.
“Let us admit that under this government, you can insult and attack the president and still go to bed without midnight troubles. This philosophy lies at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Akume quoted Tinubu as saying.
The President acknowledged the media’s role in shaping the nation’s development, noting that Nigeria’s current challenges were not created overnight but resulted from structural weaknesses that had accumulated over several decades.
He said the task of national renewal required Nigerians to understand the country’s past, confront difficult realities and make necessary choices about its future.
Tinubu described his administration’s reforms as more than policy adjustments, saying they were designed to change Nigeria’s trajectory by strengthening the country’s fiscal foundation, improving productivity, strengthening institutions, attracting investment, upgrading infrastructure and expanding opportunities for young Nigerians.
He expressed optimism that the reforms would position Nigeria to compete more effectively in the global economy.
Tinubu Unveils Nigerian Grand Book
The President also unveiled the Nigerian Grand Book, a publication aimed at celebrating Nigerians who have contributed to national development and preserving the country’s institutional memory for future generations.
Tinubu said the initiative would enable Nigerians to document their history from their own perspective rather than relying on external accounts.
“History should not be a museum of yesterday. History should be an instrument of engineering tomorrow,” he said.
He said the publication complements the Daily Times’ 100 Times Heroes Award, stressing that nation-building involved the contributions of entrepreneurs, farmers, scientists, public servants, artists, innovators and ordinary citizens serving their communities.
The President also highlighted Nigeria’s projected population growth, noting that the country could have about 450 million people by 2050. He said the projection had significant implications for food sovereignty and water resources.
Tinubu commended the management of the Daily Times and its chairman, Fidelis Anosike, for their contribution to preserving Nigeria’s national heritage, urging the newspaper to continue its operations for another century.
Daily Times Marks 100 Years
Earlier, Anosike said the Daily Times turned 100 on June 26, 2026, describing the Nigerian Grand Book as part of efforts to revive the newspaper and position it as “the Phoenix of our times.”
He traced the newspaper’s history from its acquisition by the Daily Mail of London to its listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1975, following the enactment of the Nigerian Indigenisation Act.
Anosike also credited the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo with facilitating what he described as a transparent privatisation of the Daily Times.
The centenary celebration was attended by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; governors and representatives from several states; ministers; Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi; Vanguard Publisher Sam Amuka; ThisDay publisher Nduka Obaigbena; traditional rulers and other dignitaries.
Former President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, delivered the keynote address, where he commended the Daily Times for its contribution to the development of journalism in Nigeria.
