By all accounts, Nigeria is a complex country with no shortage of challenges. Yet amid the trials, there have also been meaningful strides—some quiet, some bold, but all worthy of recognition. In the past two years, the current administration has initiated a number of reforms and policy actions that represent genuine progress and a clear shift toward greater efficiency, transparency, and national renewal.
Below is a summary of ten of the most notable and positive developments during this period. It originates from a non-government mind and activist. Please share this with others if it genuinely captures the truth: Disagree with any of the points (please avoid insults) and make shareable input to the subject:
1. Passport Issuance Revamp and Immigration Reform
One of the most visible improvements has come from the Nigeria Immigration Service. The once-frustrating backlog of passport applications has been decisively cleared nationwide, making it significantly easier for Nigerians—both at home and abroad—to obtain passports in a timely manner. Furthermore, immigration operations at major airports have been automated, reducing delays and improving the traveller experience. Enhanced border control systems have also strengthened national security.
2. Fuel Subsidy Reform and Strategic Reinvestment
The removal of the decades-old fuel subsidy—a policy long criticized for bleeding public finances—has finally been executed. While the move has posed transitional hardships, it has also freed up billions of naira now being redirected to infrastructure development and social services. For the first time in a generation, Nigeria appears to be breaking the cycle of subsidy-driven inefficiency.
3. Tax Reform for a Fairer and Broader System
A comprehensive overhaul of the national tax regime has been enacted, aimed at broadening the tax base, simplifying compliance, and encouraging both local and foreign investment. The new tax framework promises to bring clarity, fairness, and long-term value to taxpayers across socioeconomic levels—including Nigerians in the diaspora. The professional approach to its planning even promises a diligent implementation.
4. Launch of a National Student Loan Programme
In what is arguably a historic milestone, the government has launched Nigeria’s first major Student Loan Scheme since independence. This initiative opens up access to tertiary education for students from low- and middle-income families, potentially transforming thousands of lives each year and contributing to national development through human capital investment.
5. Strengthening of the Agricultural Sector
There has been renewed focus on food security and local agricultural production. Targeted investments in irrigation, storage, and farmer support schemes are beginning to reduce import dependence, while also boosting employment and productivity in rural areas. The effects are gradual but promising.
6. Support for the Digital Economy and Innovation
Nigeria’s fast-growing digital sector has received government backing through regulatory reforms and investment in broadband infrastructure. New licenses for fintech platforms, digital banks, and data centers have helped increase financial inclusion and encouraged local innovation—especially among young entrepreneurs.
7. Infrastructure: Roads and Rail Development
Critical national infrastructure, especially highways and rail networks, is finally receiving sustained attention. From the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway, progress is visible on projects that are essential for trade, mobility, and national cohesion. Coastal and other long stretch expressways, hitherto unthinkable, are assets that promise a future. They happen, very surprisingly, to confess.
8. Ongoing Anti-Corruption and E-Government Initiatives
Recent checks reveal that the fight against corruption has been strengthened through the deployment of digital tools in public procurement and payroll systems. Ghost workers are being eliminated, waste is being reduced, and government transactions are becoming increasingly traceable and accountable.
9. Institutional Reforms and Capacity Building
It is hoped that efforts are also being made to strengthen key democratic institutions, such as the judiciary, electoral commission, and regulatory bodies, through capacity-building, legislative backing, and greater independence. Though less dramatic in the short term, these institutional reforms are crucial for long-term national stability and good governance.
10. Transparent Use of Recovered Public Funds
In a marked departure from the opaque practices of the past, recovered looted funds are now being openly directed into key national projects. A prominent example is the newly established Student Loan Scheme, which has received part of its funding from recovered assets. This commitment to transparency signals a maturing governance approach.
These developments, while not exhaustive or perfect, represent measurable progress in several areas that have long hindered Nigeria’s advancement. The road ahead remains steep, but if built upon with discipline and continuity, these reforms may well serve as the foundation for a more secure, prosperous, and inclusive Nigeria.
As citizens, we must continue to hold our leaders accountable, but we must also be willing to recognize and support real progress when it occurs.
It is good these improvement records are shared to ward off the danger of leaving frustrated politicians to expand their campaign of calumny. They can only succeed in taking us back to the recent dark days only if we wish it happen.
Nigeria is not there yet but it is moving in the right direction now.
Whoever agrees with the points mentioned here should feel free to share this essay. If our people are not properly informed, they will be improperly misinformed.
God bless.
--Titi Omo-Ettu