President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigerians are free to insult and attack him without fear of midnight reprisals, insisting that tolerance for criticism and respect for press freedom remain central to his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tinubu, who spoke through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, at the centenary celebration of the Daily Times of Nigeria Limited in Abuja, said his administration had created an atmosphere in which citizens could freely criticise the President and still sleep peacefully.
“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,” the SGF quoted the president.
The President said his administration recognises the critical role of the media in shaping the destiny of the country and acknowledged that Nigeria’s current challenges were not created overnight.
According to him, many of the country’s difficulties are products of structural weaknesses that have built up over several decades.
He said the task of rebuilding the nation demands courage, a proper understanding of Nigeria’s past and a willingness to take difficult but necessary decisions.
Tinubu said the reforms being pursued by his administration go beyond mere policy adjustments, describing them as efforts aimed at changing the country’s trajectory.
He said the reforms are designed to build a stronger fiscal foundation, create a more productive economy, strengthen institutions, attract investments, improve infrastructure and expand opportunities for young Nigerians.
The ultimate goal, he said, is to position Nigeria to “compete more meaningfully and purposefully in the global economy.”
Speaking on the 100th anniversary of the Daily Times, Tinubu described the milestone as more than an ordinary celebration.
“One hundred years is not an anniversary; it is a testament to endurance, relevance and institutional resilience,” he said.
He added that the newspaper “has not only reported Nigeria’s history, it has been an important leader, analyst and catalyst” in the nation’s story.
The President stressed the importance of preserving history, warning that countries that ignore their past risk repeating old mistakes.
He said, “A nation that forgets its history is at risk of repeating its mistakes, but a nation that understands its history can draw wisdom from its successes, learn from its setbacks and confidently design its future.”
Tinubu also unveiled the Nigerian Grand Book, which he said was created to celebrate Nigerians who have contributed to national development and preserve the country’s institutional memory for future generations.
“History should not be a museum of yesterday. History should be an instrument of engineering tomorrow,” he said, adding that the publication would enable Nigerians to “tell our history from our own perspective” without relying on outside narrators.
He said the publication complements the Daily Times’ 100 Times Heroes Award and recognises the contributions of entrepreneurs, farmers, scientists, public servants, artists, innovators and ordinary citizens who have helped build their communities and the nation.
The President also raised concerns about Nigeria’s projected population growth, warning that the country’s population could reach 450 million by 2050, with serious implications for food sovereignty and water resources.
He commended the management and leadership of the Daily Times, as well as the Chairman of Folio Media Group, Mr Fidelis Anosike, for their contribution to preserving Nigeria’s heritage and urged the newspaper to “continue to thrive” for another hundred years.
Earlier, Anosike said the Daily Times clocked 100 years on June 26, 2026, describing the Nigerian Grand Book as an initiative designed “to usher in the resurrection and re-emergence of the Daily Times 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.
Anosike also credited the transparency of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration for facilitating what he described as “a clinically transparent privatisation” of the Daily Times of Nigeria.
According to him, the acquisition of the newspaper was driven by young Nigerians in their 30s who demonstrated the capacity to replicate “the professionalism, acumen, and capacity for mergers, acquisitions, expansions and diversifications” associated with Western economies.
He described the journey with the Daily Times as one that had “emboldened our dreams, futuristic forays built on faith, growth and altruism.”
The centenary celebration attracted prominent personalities, including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu; governors and representatives of several states; ministers; presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi; Vanguard Publisher, Uncle Sam Amuka; ThisDay Publisher, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; traditional rulers and other dignitaries.
Former President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, who delivered the keynote address, also praised the Daily Times for its contribution to the growth and evolution of journalism in Nigeria.
