President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed optimism that 2026 will mark the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth for Nigeria, citing gains recorded from ongoing fiscal and structural reforms. In his New Year goodwill message to Nigerians on January 1, 2026, the President said the country closed 2025 with measurable economic progress despite global economic challenges.
According to Tinubu, Nigeria recorded consistent quarterly GDP growth in 2025, with annual growth projected to exceed four per cent. He noted improvements in exchange rate stability, sustained trade surpluses, and a steady decline in inflation to below 15 per cent. The President also highlighted the strong performance of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which posted a 48.12 per cent gain in 2025, as well as the country’s foreign reserves, which stood at $45.4 billion at the end of the year.
The President said investor confidence is returning, as reflected in a sharp rise in foreign direct investment to $720 million in the third quarter of 2025. He added that global credit rating agencies such as Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s have affirmed Nigeria’s economic direction. Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration will consolidate these gains in 2026 while further reducing inflation and expanding fiscal space for infrastructure and human capital development.
On fiscal policy, Tinubu emphasised tax reforms and the need to curb multiple taxation across all levels of government. He said the tax harmonisation agenda will help ease the burden on citizens, raise revenue sustainably, and strengthen the government’s capacity to finance social and economic development. He also reiterated his commitment to fiscal discipline following the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly.
Addressing security and national unity, the President said economic progress must go hand in hand with peace and stability. He pledged intensified operations against terrorism and criminality, deeper cooperation with international partners, and renewed calls for decentralised policing with safeguards. Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain united and patriotic, stressing that nation-building is a shared responsibility as the country moves into a new phase of inclusive growth in 2026.