President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful for a prosperous New Year in 2026, saying the reforms undertaken by his administration are yielding results and moving the country in the right direction.
Tinubu gave the charge in his New Year goodwill message to Nigerians, titled “2026 Marks the Beginning of a More Robust Phase of Economic Growth.”
He said his administration believed that a decentralised policing system, with appropriate safeguards and complemented by forest guards, was critical to effectively addressing terrorism, banditry and related security challenges.
The President recalled that in 2025, his administration sustained momentum on major reforms, carried out a fiscal reset and recorded steady economic progress despite global economic challenges.
He said, “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.”
Speaking on the economic outlook, Tinubu said his focus in 2026 would be on consolidating gains and building a resilient, sustainable, inclusive and growth-oriented economy.
He said, “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 dollars 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 dollars, up from 90 million dollars in the preceding quarter, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction, which global credit rating agencies, including Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard and Poor’s, have consistently affirmed and applauded.”
Tinubu said his administration had implemented critical reforms that were 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,” he said.
The President said the new year marked a critical phase in the implementation of tax reforms aimed at building a fair and competitive fiscal system.
He said, “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.”
Tinubu also stressed that economic progress must go hand in hand with security and peace.
He said, “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.”
The President expressed optimism that 2026 would usher in a more robust phase of economic growth with tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
He said, “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, including 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.”
Tinubu called on Nigerians to play their part in achieving national objectives in the new year.
He said, “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.”
