In a comprehensive New Year broadcast titled 2026 Marks the Beginning of a More Robust Phase of Economic Growth,’ President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the coming year will witness the full maturation of current reforms.
Welcoming the nation into 2026, the President emphasized that the “fiscal reset” of the previous year has paved the way for widespread prosperity.
“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,” the President stated.
Reflecting on the challenges of the past twelve months, President Tinubu noted that while the global economic environment remained volatile, Nigeria’s internal strategies began to yield measurable results.
“During 2025, we sustained the momentum on our major reforms. We had a fiscal reset and also recorded steady economic progress,” he said. He further defended the administration’s policy direction, adding, “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.”
The President outlined a clear vision for the new year, focused on transition from stabilization to aggressive expansion. “As we enter 2026, our focus is on consolidating these gains and continuing to build a resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and growth-oriented economy,” Tinubu declared.
The President provided specific data points to highlight the turnaround:
– GDP Growth: Nigeria maintained robust quarterly growth, with an annualized rate expected to exceed 4%.
– Inflation: The rate fell below the 15% target.
– Foreign Reserves: Stood at $45.4 billion as of late December 2025.
– Capital Markets: The Nigerian Stock Exchange posted a 48.12% gain in 2025.
“We closed 2025 on a strong note. Despite the policies to fight inflation, Nigeria recorded a robust GDP growth each quarter, with annualised growth expected to exceed four per cent for the year. We maintained trade surpluses and achieved greater exchange rate stability,” the President explained.
He continued, “Inflation declined steadily and reached below 15 per cent, in line with our 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.”
The President noted that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has seen a dramatic recovery, rising from $90 million to $720 million by the third quarter of 2025. He attributed this to affirmations from global agencies like Moody’s and Fitch.
“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.
Discussing the 2026 Appropriation Bill, he added: “A few days ago, I presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly. In that address, I emphasised that our administration has implemented critical reforms that are laying a solid foundation for long-term stability and prosperity. With patience, fiscal discipline, and unity of purpose, Nigeria will emerge in 2026 stronger and better positioned for sustained growth.”
A major pillar of the 2026 agenda is the elimination of multiple taxation to ease the burden on businesses and households.
“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 President noted.
He further elaborated on the long-term goals of these changes: “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.”
Acknowledging that economic growth requires a peaceful environment, President Tinubu addressed the ongoing security challenges, citing the December 24 strikes in the Northwest as a sign of intensified military operations.
“My fellow Nigerians, the path of reform is never easy, but it is necessary. We remain mindful that economic progress must be accompanied by security and peace,” he stated. “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 also signaled a shift toward structural changes in policing: “In 2026, our security and intelligence agencies will deepen cooperation with regional and global partners to eliminate all threats to national security. We remain committed to protecting lives, property, and the territorial integrity of our country. 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.”
The President promised that the “Renewed Hope” agenda would hit the grassroots level in 2026 via the Ward Development Programme.
“The new year marks the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth, with tangible improvements in the lives of our people. 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,” he pledged.
Closing his message with a call to national duty, Tinubu concluded: “To achieve our objectives in 2026, we must all play our part. Nation-building is a shared responsibility. We must stand together in unity and purpose, uphold patriotism, and serve our country with honour and integrity in our respective roles. 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. Happy New Year to you all.”
