President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration is committed to advancing economic growth in 2026. He cited key outcomes of recent reforms, including reduced inflation, enhanced exchange rate stability, increased foreign investment, and greater fiscal discipline.

In his 2026 New Year message, the President announced a plan to empower at least 1,000 people in each of Nigeria’s 8,809 wards to promote inclusive growth and improve citizens’ lives.

The President commended his administration, emphasising that despite ongoing global economic challenges, the government achieved measurable progress, particularly in the economy in 2025. He asserted that these results demonstrate the effectiveness of current policies and suggested that further improvements are anticipated for the benefit of ordinary Nigerians.

President Tinubu noted that the Nigerian Stock Exchange has increased by 48.12% and foreign reserves reached $45.4bn as of December 29, 2025, providing stability for the Naira. He is optimistic that this will further improve in the new year.

President Tinubu reported steady quarterly GDP growth in 2025, with annualised rates expected above four percent. Inflation dropped below 15 percent by year-end. Foreign direct investment also surged, reaching $720 million in Q3 2025, up from $90 million previously, reflecting increased investor confidence.

The President also stated that in 2026, his administration plans to strengthen these achievements by maintaining fiscal discipline and implementing tax reforms. He revealed that the newly submitted 2026 Appropriation Bill is designed to promote long-term stability and create more fiscal space for investments in infrastructure and human capital, especially as inflation and interest rates begin to decline.

He also insisted that the tax reform, which will begin full implementation this year, will tackle the challenge of multiple taxation, commending states that have aligned with the national tax harmonisation agenda.

He stated that the ongoing tax reforms are intended to establish a fair and competitive fiscal framework, ensure sustainable revenue generation, and alleviate the burden of excessive taxes and levies on both citizens and businesses.

Regarding insecurity, the President stated that his administration would deepen cooperation with regional and global partners to eliminate all threats to national security, as he remains committed to protecting lives, property, and the territorial integrity of the country.

He restated his support for state policing, emphasising that a decentralised, accountable system—alongside regulated forest guards—is essential for tackling terrorism, banditry, and related security issues.

He urged Nigerians to unite, act with integrity, and serve the country so his promises can be fulfilled.

Read the full speech below.

2026 MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A MORE ROBUST PHASE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH: PRESIDENT TINUBU’S NEW YEAR GOODWILL MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS

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.

𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤

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 percent, 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 Nigeria’s economic direction, which global credit rating agencies, including Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s, have consistently affirmed and applauded.

𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦

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.

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

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.

I𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

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 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.

𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

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.

BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR

PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

JANUARY 1, 2026

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