Marking precisely one year since he was sworn into office, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu was caught up in rounds that involved trips to the National Assembly in the Federal Capital Territory and afterwards, to launch the Abuja Light Rail Metro which has been declared free until the holidays in December.

At the National Assembly to address a joint session of both lower and upper house parliamentarians, Mr Tinubu thought it worth noting to his hosts and neutral guests that his anniversary on 29 May 2024 was also commemorating 25 years of unbroken democracy in the country.

Past military coups especially under the late dictator and Head of State General Sani Abacha had caused the president to run into exile in the United States in 1993. This association, while at the Assembly, made for quite a solemn affair that was preceded by the revived ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ national anthem last recited at a public function close to fifty years ago.

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Specifically, the last recital of the anthem before today in parliament was in 1978 when Nigeria had Olusegun Obasanjo as the Head of State.

This institution, the hallowed chamber, represents our consciousness of freedom and sense of belonging. You rang out the latest national anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’, President Bola Tinubu says a round of applause in the house.

Nigeria’s House of Representatives last Thursday passed the Bill For An Act to Provide for the National Anthem of Nigeria and for Matters Related Thereto, which then produced the final act yesterday when the Senate also approved the bill.

While at the assembly, the president cut the image of an elder statesman with a clear vision of the means to propel Nigeria toward remarkable achievements.

On the day he is marking one year in office, the country’s national currency the Naira has been seen to have made the highest gains in four months with its output of ₦1,1173.88 to a dollar which demanded a lot of struggle to reach.

Mr Tinubu and his economic team comprising key officers like the Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun and the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Olayemi Cardoso are confident that driving foreign investment rapidly is possible with their recovery tactics that ensure Nigerians get to the experience the renewed hope benefits severally promised.

At the Abuja Light Rail Metro re-launch after the National Assembly trip, Nigeria’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Tinubu was providing one of the ready benefits.

Before declaring free train rides for Abuja residents until year-end, the president praised the F.C.T Minister Nyesome Wike. It was the former Rivers State Governor Wike, now Federal Executive Council member, although not his first time, whose efforts made it possible to re-commission the one-time moribund train service that went into limbo four years ago during the tenure of predecessor Muhammadu Buhari.

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With a whopping $823million tag in cost and value attached to the Abuja Metro, President Tinubu needed to make a statement which mirrors him as the renowned builder personality in the political space and through the resilience of his minister, he has succeeded.

I made a public request and a challenge to Nyesome Wike. Then, I did not know that he would be able to deliver this project on time. I said, don’t give me land; give me the assurance that I will be able to ride on the metro line. He laughed and nodded his head. I am very proud that you delivered on that promise, says President Tinubu in his commissioning speech.

Only Bola Tinubu has been opportune to commission multiple train services in a single year or an administration. Exactly three months ago, the president was in Lagos to fulfil a different aspect of destiny with the Red Line Rail commenced and completed by his protégé Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

President Tinubu, during his first tenure as the Governor of Lagos, pushed the vision of inter-city trains that later sprung wings. The eventual flight was facilitated by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Act of January 2002 he earlier envisioned. This vehicle is to provide a multimodal transport service that includes not just rail travel, but also waterways mobility and BRTs.

And so 22 years on since LAMATA started its walk, there was to be Nigeria’s president travelling down to Lagos from his Aso Villa office for the Red Line commissioning on 29 February. Having easy transportation utilities matters under his leadership which seeks to enact a connected country by land, air and sea through rapid investment.

Confirming free Abuja Light Rail for city residents and visitors while rounding off his speech, the president who was scheduled to ride in the transport service he has just commissioned said to F.C.T Minister Wike: Our dear landlord, I heard you saying two months free ride. I appeal to you to make it till the end of the year. Free ride! Since today you are not going to charge me, that will give the people hope and reasons to celebrate.