Fellow Compatriots,
As we cross the threshold into 2026, I extend my heartfelt welcome, anchored in gratitude to God and an unshakeable confidence in our collective destiny. This year promises to be a pivotal chapter—one of deeper prosperity for our nation, tangible improvement for our citizens, and renewed hope for all who call Nigeria home.
The year 2025 was not without its challenges, yet it served as a critical proving ground for our national resolve. We sustained momentum on our foundational reforms, executing a necessary fiscal reset and recording steady, measurable economic progress. Amid persistent global headwinds—from geopolitical tensions to supply chain disruptions—Nigeria secured tangible gains. These achievements are not mere statistics; they are affirmations that the difficult but necessary path we have chosen is steering us toward a future where the ordinary Nigerian will reap more concrete, life-improving results.
Economic Progress and Outlook: From Stabilization to Sustained Growth
Our entry into 2026 is marked by a strategic shift from stabilization to consolidation and inclusive growth. We closed 2025 on a strong note: robust quarterly GDP growth is expected to yield an annualized rate exceeding 4%, a significant rebound. This was achieved while actively combating inflation, which declined steadily to below our 15% target, demonstrating that growth and price stability can be pursued in tandem.
The markers of renewed confidence are clear. The Nigerian Stock Exchange’s 48.12% gain in 2025, leading global peers, signals deep-seated investor optimism. More critically, our foreign reserves, standing at $45.4 billion, provide a formidable shield for the Naira against external volatility. The surge in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to $720 million in Q3 2025, from a mere $90 million the prior quarter, is a powerful vote of confidence from the international community, consistently echoed by upgraded appraisals from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s. Our focus for 2026 is unambiguous: to drive inflation lower still and ensure the translating of these macro-economic gains into palpable benefits for every household.
Fiscal Discipline and Foundational Tax Reform
The 2026 Appropriation Bill I recently presented is a blueprint for this transition. The critical reforms of the past years have laid a new foundation; 2026 is about building upon it with patience and unwavering fiscal discipline. As inflation and interest rates moderate, we will unlock increased fiscal space for productive investments in infrastructure and human capital.
A cornerstone of this effort is our comprehensive tax reform. We are confronting the debilitating plague of multiple, often arbitrary, taxes across all tiers of government. I commend the states that have already aligned with our national harmonisation agenda. This reform is not merely about raising revenue—it is about building a fairer, more competitive, and predictable system. By streamlining taxes, we aim to reduce the burden on businesses and basic consumption, eliminate fiscal distortions, and sustainably fund the infrastructure and social investments that fuel shared prosperity.
Security and National Stability: The Bedrock of Prosperity
We remain acutely aware that economic progress is hollow without security and peace. Our nation continues to face threats from terrorists and criminals intent on undermining our way of life. The decisive actions taken with international partners, including the United States, on December 24 in the Northwest, and the sustained operations by our gallant Armed Forces, underscore our relentless commitment.
In 2026, we will deepen cooperation with regional and global allies to dismantle every threat network. I reiterate my firm belief that a constitutionally sound, decentralised policing system, complemented by properly regulated forest guards and anchored in strict accountability, is essential to securing our communities, farmlands, and highways for good.
Inclusive Growth and Social Development: Empowering from the Ground Up
This year marks the beginning of a more robust phase where growth must be felt in every ward. We will accelerate the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, targeting to bring at least 10 million Nigerians into productive economic activity by empowering 1,000 individuals per ward across all 8,809 wards. Through strategic focus on agriculture, agro-processing, trade, and mining, we will stimulate local economies and create wealth at the grassroots.
Concurrently, we will continue our unprecedented investments in modernising Nigeria’s infrastructure backbone—power, roads, ports, railways, and digital networks—as well as in healthcare and education. All ongoing projects will continue without interruption, strengthening food security and enhancing the overall quality of life.
A Call to Unity and Shared Responsibility
The realization of this 2026 blueprint is a shared national enterprise. Nation-building demands the patriotism, integrity, and active participation of every citizen in their respective roles. Let us resolve to be better stewards of our nation, supporting one another and holding fast to our unity of purpose.
Fellow Nigerians, I wish you all a peaceful, productive, and prosperous 2026. May God Almighty continue to bless and protect the Federal Republic of Nigeria, keep our troops safe, and frustrate the designs of all those who seek to disrupt our peace and stability.
Happy New Year.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
January 1, 2026
