President Tinubu Says Nigeria on Path of Economic Growth, Targets 10m Nigerians for Empowerment in 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed confidence that Nigeria is on the path of economic growth, while also targeting 10 million Nigerians for economic empowerment.
In his New Year goodwill message on Thursday, President Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain united as the country enters a critical phase of economic reforms.
His words: “Fellow Compatriots, I welcome you all to 2026, with gratitude to God and confidence in our collective resolve that this new year will be a more prosperous one for our nation, our citizens, and all who call Nigeria home.
“During 2025, we sustained the momentum on our major reforms. We had a fiscal reset and also recorded steady economic progress. Despite persistent global economic headwinds, we recorded tangible and measurable gains, particularly in the economy. These achievements reaffirm our belief that the difficult but necessary reforms we embarked upon are moving us in the right direction with more concrete results on the horizon for the ordinary Nigerian.”
On economic progress and outlook, the President disclosed that his administration’s focus is on consolidating the gains already recorded and continuing to build a resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and growth-oriented economy.
According to him, the year 2025 ended on a strong note for Nigeria. “Despite the policies to fight inflation, Nigeria recorded a robust GDP growth each quarter, with annualised growth expected to exceed 4 per cent for the year.”
He noted that Nigeria maintained trade surpluses and achieved greater exchange rate stability, stressing that inflation declined steadily and reached below 15 per cent, in line with his administration’s target.
“In 2026, we are determined to reduce inflation further and ensure that the benefits of reform reach every Nigerian household. In 2025, the Nigerian Stock Exchange outperformed its peers, posting a robust 48.12 per cent gain and consolidating its bullish run that began in the second half of 2023.
“Supported by sound monetary policy management, our foreign reserves stood at $45.4 billion as of December 29, 2025, providing a substantial buffer against external shocks for the Naira. We expect this position to strengthen further in the new year,” he said.
President Tinubu stated that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is also responding positively, recalling that in the third quarter of 2025, FDI rose to $720 million, up from $90 million in the preceding quarter, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction.
This development, he said, global credit rating agencies, including Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s, have consistently affirmed and applauded.
With reference to fiscal discipline and tax reform, Tinubu recounted his recent presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, reiterating that his administration’s critical reforms are laying a solid foundation for long-term stability and prosperity.
He expressed optimism that with patience, fiscal discipline, and unity of purpose, Nigeria would emerge in 2026 stronger and better positioned for sustained growth.
“As inflation and interest rates moderate, we expect increased fiscal space for productive investment in infrastructure and human capital development. We are also confronting the challenge of multiple taxation across all tiers of government. I commend states that have aligned with the national tax harmonisation agenda by adopting harmonised tax laws to reduce the excessive burden of taxes, levies, and fees on our people and on basic consumption.
“The new year marks a critical phase in implementing our tax reforms, designed to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for Nigeria. By harmonising our tax system, we aim to raise revenue sustainably, address fiscal distortions, and strengthen our capacity to finance infrastructure and social investments that will deliver shared prosperity,” he explained.
Regarding security and national stability, President Tinubu acknowledged that the path of reform is never easy, but it is necessary. “We remain mindful that economic progress must be accompanied by security and peace.Our nation continues to confront security threats from criminal and terrorist elements determined to disrupt our way of life.
“In collaboration with international partners, including the United States, decisive actions were taken against terrorist targets in parts of the Northwest on December 24. Our Armed Forces have since sustained operations against terror networks and criminal strongholds across the Northwest and Northeast.”
He assured that in 2026, Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies will deepen cooperation with regional and global partners to eliminate all threats to national security, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting lives, property, and the country’s territorial integrity.
“I continue to believe that a decentralised policing system with appropriate safeguards, complemented by properly regulated forest guards, all anchored on accountability, is critical to effectively addressing terrorism, banditry, and related security challenges,” he added.
Speaking on exclusive growth and social development, the President asserted that the new year marks the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth, with tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
“We will accelerate the implementation of the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, aiming to bring at least 10 million Nigerians into productive economic activity by empowering at least 1,000 people in each of the 8,809 wards across the country.
“Through agriculture, trade, food processing, and mining, we will stimulate local economies and expand grassroots opportunities. We will also continue to invest in modernising Nigeria’s infrastructure – roads, power, ports, railways, airports, pipelines, healthcare, education, and agriculture to strengthen food security and improve quality of life. All ongoing projects will continue without interruption,” he said.
He equally mentioned that for Nigeria to achieve its objectives in 2026, all citizens must play their parts, emphasising that nation-building is a shared responsibility.
President Tinubu encouraged Nigerians to stand together in unity and purpose, uphold patriotism, and serve Nigeria with honour and integrity in their respective roles.
He further stated: “Let us resolve to be better citizens, better neighbours, and better stewards of our nation. Fellow Nigerians, I wish you all a peaceful, productive, and prosperous New Year. May God continue to bless and protect our beloved country, keep our troops safe and destroy the enemies bent on disrupting our national peace, security, and stability.”
