President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that 2026 will usher in broader prosperity, improved security, and sustained economic growth, stressing that patience, fiscal discipline, and national unity remain essential to achieving these goals.
The President gave the assurance in his New Year message on Thursday, noting that his administration would maintain the momentum of its sweeping economic reforms.
Reflecting on the outgoing year, Tinubu said 2025 marked a period of significant fiscal restructuring and steady economic progress despite challenging global conditions.
“During 2025, we sustained the momentum of our major reforms. We implemented a fiscal reset and recorded measurable economic gains,” he said.
According to the President, the outcomes of these reforms demonstrate that the tough decisions taken by his government are beginning to yield tangible results for Nigerians.
“These achievements reaffirm our belief that the difficult but necessary reforms we embarked upon are moving us in the right direction, with more concrete benefits on the horizon for the ordinary Nigerian,” Tinubu stated.
Focus on Consolidation in 2026
Looking ahead, the President said 2026 would be dedicated to consolidating existing gains while strengthening a resilient, inclusive, and growth-driven economy.
He revealed that Nigeria closed 2025 on a strong footing, recording consistent quarterly GDP growth, with annual growth projected to exceed four per cent, despite measures aimed at curbing inflation.
Tinubu also highlighted improvements in key economic indicators, including sustained trade surpluses, increased exchange rate stability, and a steady decline in inflation to below 15 per cent, in line with government targets.
“In 2026, we are determined to reduce inflation further and ensure that the benefits of reform reach every Nigerian household,” he said.
The President noted that the Nigerian Stock Exchange posted a robust 48.12 per cent gain in 2025, outperforming several global peers and extending its bullish momentum that began in late 2023.
He added that Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at $45.4 billion as of December 29, 2025, bolstered by sound monetary policy and providing a strong buffer against external shocks, with expectations of further improvement in the new year.
Tinubu also pointed to a sharp rise in foreign direct investment, which climbed to $720 million in the third quarter of 2025 from $90 million in the previous quarter, attributing the increase to renewed investor confidence.
He said Nigeria’s economic direction has continued to receive positive assessments from global credit rating agencies, including Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s.
