President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said 2026 would mark the start of a more robust phase of economic growth for the nation, citing moderating inflation, improved foreign reserves, growing investment inflows and sustained GDP expansion as proof that recent reforms are beginning to yield results.
President Tinubu promised to deepen tax reforms, increase infrastructure investment, bolster security operations, and accelerate inclusive growth initiatives aimed at raising living standards nationwide in his New Year’s address to the nation. Tinubu also stated that the administration’s fiscal, monetary, and structural reforms implemented in 2025 had stabilised key economic indicators despite global headwinds.
See President Tinubu’s full speech below:
2026 MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A MORE ROBUST PHASE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH
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.
๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค
As we enter 2026, our focus is on consolidating these gains and continuing to build a resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and growth-oriented economy.
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 4 per cent for the year. We maintained trade surpluses and achieved greater exchange rate stability. 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.
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.
Foreign direct investment is also responding positively. In the third quarter of 2025, FDI rose to $720 million, up from $90 million in the preceding quarter, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigeriaโs economic direction, which global credit rating agencies, including Moodyโs, Fitch, and Standard & Poorโs, have consistently affirmed and applauded.
๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ
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.
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.
Also Recommended: 2026 Tax Reforms Hours Away โ What to Expect as Changes Take Full Force
๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
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.
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.
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.
๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
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.
Through agriculture, trade, food processing, and mining, we will stimulate local economies and expand grassroots opportunities. We will also continue to invest in modernising Nigeriaโs infrastructure โ 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.
๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
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.
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