President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria is once again respected globally under his leadership, crediting bold economic reforms for stabilizing the country.
But his claim comes even as he remains entangled in serious unresolved allegations in the United States ranging from drug-related money laundering to certificate forgery.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa during a visit from the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Oladunni Olaoye, and other traditional rulers, Tinubu said the Nigerian economy is now “alive” and no longer bleeding, thanks to decisive moves such as the removal of fuel subsidies and reforms to the foreign exchange system.
“Years of neglect, fake records, smuggling, and corruption denied Nigeria the revenue it needed,” Tinubu stated ironically referencing issues he himself has been accused of, including forged educational documents and a U.S. court-acknowledged forfeiture of $460,000 linked to drug trafficking proceeds.
Despite these unresolved legal and credibility issues abroad, Tinubu continues to assert that his leadership is restoring Nigeria’s global reputation. “With your prayers, patience, and understanding, I’m glad to tell you today that the economy is stabilised,” he said.
He also touted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has reportedly disbursed over ₦86 billion to nearly 450,000 students, as a key achievement in improving educational access.
The Soun of Ogbomosoland commended Tinubu’s “courageous reforms,” particularly the fuel subsidy removal, and praised the dualization of the Oyo-Ogbomoso road as a vital infrastructure milestone.
Yet, Nigerians argue that the President’s claims of international respect are undermined by his ongoing legal controversies in the United States. In the 1990s, Tinubu was implicated in a U.S. investigation into heroin trafficking and agreed to a forfeiture of $460,000 in drug-linked funds. More recently, questions surrounding the authenticity of his Chicago State University certificate have triggered legal challenges and public skepticism.
Though Tinubu has not faced criminal prosecution in the U.S., the allegations continue to cast a shadow over his international image and raise concerns about the moral legitimacy of his presidency.
The traditional rulers’ visit, intended to strengthen ties between government and cultural institutions, also offered the President a platform to push forward his “Renewed Hope Agenda” an ambitious framework focusing on economic recovery, infrastructure development, food security, education, and national unity.
Still, for many observers both within and outside Nigeria, true global respect will depend not only on economic reforms but also on transparency, accountability, and the resolution of deeply rooted questions surrounding the President’s own integrity.
