Tinubu ushers in 2026 with bold pledges for economic revival, enhanced security

Abuja, FCT – In a New Year's address broadcast nationwide, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared 2026 as a pivotal year for Nigeria's economic takeoff, vowing to build on 2025's fiscal reforms to deliver lower inflation, stronger growth, and broader prosperity.

The speech, delivered amid ongoing debates over tax policies and economic hardships, emphasized unity and shared responsibility while addressing persistent security challenges.

Tinubu highlighted key achievements from 2025, including a decline in inflation to below 15%, foreign reserves reaching $45.4 billion, and GDP growth projected to exceed 4%. He noted sustained trade surpluses, exchange rate stability, and a 48.12% gain in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, alongside a surge in foreign direct investment to $720 million in Q3 2025 up from $90 million the previous quarter.

Credit rating agencies like Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s have upgraded Nigeria's outlook, signaling renewed investor confidence.

"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," Tinubu stated.

Looking ahead, the president pledged to further reduce inflation and ensure reform benefits "reach every Nigerian household" through increased fiscal space for investments as interest rates moderate.

He commended states for adopting harmonized tax laws to ease burdens and emphasized that ongoing tax reforms aim for a fair fiscal foundation without overtaxing citizens.

The 2026 Appropriation Bill, he said, will prioritize long-term stability, with calls for "patience, fiscal discipline, and unity of purpose."

Additionally, Tinubu announced the acceleration of the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, aiming to empower at least 1,000 people per ward across Nigeria's 8,809 wards, potentially engaging 10 million citizens in agriculture, trade, food processing, and mining to stimulate local economies.

On security, Tinubu acknowledged lingering threats from terrorism and banditry, citing recent collaborative strikes with international partners, including the United States, on December 24, 2025, in the Northwest.

He committed to deeper regional and global cooperation to eliminate threats, while supporting decentralized policing with safeguards, regulated forest guards, and accountability measures.

"In 2026, our security and intelligence agencies will deepen cooperation with regional and global partners to eliminate all threats to national security," he affirmed, recommitting to protecting lives, property, and territorial integrity.

The address also touched on infrastructure modernization, including roads, power, ports, railways, airports, pipelines, healthcare, education, and agriculture to bolster food security. Tinubu urged Nigerians to embrace patriotism and integrity, stating, "Nation-building is a shared responsibility. We must stand together in unity and purpose."

The speech comes against a backdrop of mixed economic indicators and public sentiment. While 2025 saw gains like a N70,000 minimum wage, student loans for over 300,000, and infrastructure pushes such as the Coastal Highway, critics point to persistent unemployment, underemployment, and small business collapses.

As Nigeria steps into 2026, the success of these pledges will hinge on implementation amid economic pressures and political divisions.