Amid a recent World Bank report stating that Nigeria now has the highest population of extremely poor people, President Bola Tinubu has boasted that Nigeria’s economy is turning around and his economic policies are already “bearing fruits”.

Mr Tinubu said this over the weekend at Katsina during his official visit to Katsina.

“The economy is turning around. It has turned the corner,” Mr Tinubu said.

The president added that at the initial stage, he was almost overwhelmed by reports of economic hardship triggered by his government’s policies.

“When we started, it was challenging. I almost ran away from watching the news or reading the newspapers,” Mr Tinubu admitted. “I just used courage and stayed put on my decisions, knowing the ability of a leader to take a decision at the right time is the hallmark of leadership. We took it. We stayed with it, and it will be rewarding. It is already bearing fruits.”

The president’s claim on economic policies bearing fruits followed the International Monetary Fund’s damning report that poverty and food insecurity remain high under Mr Tinubu’s watch.

Similarly, the World Bank’s Africa Pulse report of April 2025 stated that under Mr Tinubu, Nigeria has the highest number of extremely poor people globally.

The report also predicted a grim future for Nigeria, warning that many more Nigerians will be plunged into poverty by 2027 under Mr Tinubu’s watch.