By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
RENEWED EMPHASIS on economic growth, fiscal discipline and national stability shaped President Bola Tinubu’s New Year message to Nigerians as the nation entered 2026 with confidence in ongoing reforms and expectations of broader prosperity.
Welcoming Nigerians to the new year, the President expressed gratitude to God and confidence in the nation’s collective resolve, stating that 2026 would be more prosperous for the country, its citizens and all who call Nigeria home.
He said the momentum of major reforms was sustained throughout 2025, marked by a fiscal reset and steady economic progress despite persistent global economic headwinds and added that tangible and measurable gains were recorded, particularly in the economy, and described the reforms as difficult but necessary steps moving the country in the right direction, with more concrete results expected for ordinary Nigerians.
Looking ahead, he said the focus in 2026 would be on consolidating gains and continuing efforts to build a resilient, sustainable, inclusive and growth-oriented economy.
He said Nigeria closed 2025 strongly, recording robust quarterly GDP growth despite policies aimed at fighting inflation, with annualised growth expected to exceed 4 percent for the year and also said trade surpluses were maintained, exchange rate stability improved and inflation declined steadily to below 15 percent, in line with government targets.
He said the administration was determined to reduce inflation further in 2026 and ensure the benefits of reform reach every Nigerian household.
He also highlighted performance in the capital market, stating that the Nigerian Stock Exchange outperformed its peers in 2025 with a 48.12 percent gain, consolidating a bullish run that began in the second half of 2023.
He said foreign reserves stood at $45.4 billion as of December 29, 2025, supported by sound monetary policy management and providing a substantial buffer against external shocks for the Naira, with expectations that the position would strengthen further in the new year.
On investment flows, he said foreign direct investment responded positively, rising to $720 million in the third quarter of 2025 from $90 million in the preceding quarter adding that the increase reflected renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction, noting that global credit rating agencies including Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s had consistently affirmed and applauded the country’s progress.
Turning to fiscal discipline, the President said he had presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly a few days earlier, where he emphasised that critical reforms implemented by his administration were laying a solid foundation for long term stability and prosperity.
He said with patience, fiscal discipline and unity of purpose, Nigeria would emerge in 2026 stronger and better positioned for sustained growth and said moderating inflation and interest rates were expected to create increased fiscal space for productive investment in infrastructure and human capital development.
He addressed the challenge of multiple taxation across all tiers of government and commended states that aligned with the national tax harmonisation agenda by adopting harmonised tax laws.
He said the approach reduced the excessive burden of taxes, levies and fees on citizens and on basic consumption.
He described 2026 as a critical phase in implementing tax reforms designed to build a fair, competitive and robust fiscal foundation, aimed at raising revenue sustainably, addressing fiscal distortions and strengthening the capacity to finance infrastructure and social investments.
On security, he said economic progress must be accompanied by peace and stability, acknowledging ongoing threats from criminal and terrorist elements. He said decisive actions were taken in collaboration with international partners, including the United States, against terrorist targets in parts of the Northwest on December 24.
He said the Armed Forces had sustained operations against terror networks and criminal strongholds across the Northwest and Northeast saying that security and intelligence agencies would deepen cooperation with regional and global partners in 2026 to eliminate all threats to national security, while remaining committed to protecting lives, property and territorial integrity.
President Tinubu reiterated his belief in a decentralised policing system with appropriate safeguards, complemented by properly regulated forest guards anchored on accountability.
On inclusive growth, he said the new year marked the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth with tangible improvements in people’s lives saying the government would accelerate 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 nationwide.
Also, he said agriculture, trade, food processing and mining would be used to stimulate local economies and expand grassroots opportunities, and that investments would continue in modernising infrastructure including roads, power, ports, railways, airports, pipelines, healthcare, education and agriculture, stating that all ongoing projects would continue without interruption.
Calling for unity, the President said nation building required shared responsibility, urging Nigerians to stand together with patriotism, honour and integrity as he wished citizens a peaceful, productive and prosperous New Year and prayed for continued blessings, protection for the country and safety for the troops.
FULL TEXT:
2026 MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A MORE ROBUST PHASE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH: TEXT OF 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 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 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
PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
JANUARY 1, 2026
