By chiemeka ugwowo, Abuja
Tinubu: Nigeria Has Entered New Era of Prosperity
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria has moved beyond the era of difficult economic reforms and entered a new phase focused on prosperity, job creation and improved living standards.
Tinubu made the declaration on Thursday in his Independence Day address to Nigerians to mark the country’s 66th anniversary.
The President said Nigeria had endured decades of economic challenges, insecurity, military rule and political upheavals, but remained resilient because of the determination and sacrifices of its citizens.
He said independence was not merely about the national flag and anthem, but a commitment to building a country capable of providing opportunity, dignity and a better life for its people.
According to Tinubu, Nigeria’s economic difficulties had been worsened over the years by the postponement of difficult decisions and the continuation of inefficient economic arrangements.
He likened the situation inherited by his administration in 2023 to a cancer that required painful but necessary treatment.
Tinubu said his administration chose to confront the underlying problems through economic reforms despite the hardship experienced by Nigerians.
“Our reform did not create the weakness in our economy. It confronted them,” he said.
The President said the reforms had begun to produce improvements, citing economic growth of more than four per cent, declining inflation, rebuilt foreign reserves and greater stability in the foreign exchange market.
He also said Nigeria recorded more than $6 billion in non-oil export revenue in 2025.
Tinubu said the government’s priority had now shifted from correcting the economy to ensuring that the benefits of growth translated into better living conditions for Nigerians.
“My fellow Nigerians, we have reached a turning point,” he said.
He said the government was investing in mechanisation, storage and transportation while building and completing roads, railways and ports to connect farms and factories with markets.
Tinubu said reducing production, energy and transportation costs would help bring down the prices of goods.
He also identified Nigeria’s youthful population as a major economic opportunity, saying government policies would place jobs, enterprise and industrial development at the centre of the country’s economic strategy.
The President said the government would use Nigeria’s gas resources to power new industries, support the revival of factories and expand digital connectivity to underserved communities.
He also pledged continued support for Nigerian businesses through infrastructure, finance and skilled manpower.
“I want to see more Nigerians making things,” Tinubu said, adding that Nigerian businesses should be able to sell locally produced goods to markets across the world.
The President acknowledged that millions of Nigerians still face difficulties meeting basic needs, including food, school fees, healthcare and transportation.
He said the government was strengthening social protection programmes, including direct assistance to poor households and improvements to the national social register.
Tinubu also cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and CreditCorp as measures designed to expand access to education and consumer credit.
He said the government would continue working with state and local governments to strengthen primary healthcare, basic education and other essential public services.
According to the President, salaries and pensions have been paid on time and in full since 2023, while reforms to the national pension system were aimed at improving the welfare of retirees and vulnerable Nigerians.
Tinubu said the administration’s goal was not simply to manage poverty but to eliminate it through sustained economic growth and the creation of millions of productive opportunities.
“The age of reform has done its work. Now begins the age of prosperity,” he declared.
He urged Nigerians to remain united and committed to building a country where prosperity is broadly shared and every child has the opportunity to achieve their potential.
“Nigeria has corrected its course. We have passed through our own Red Sea,” Tinubu said.
He ended the address with a call for Nigerians to move forward together.
“Let us go forward. No looking back. Happy Independence Day, my fellow Nigerians. God bless you all and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
