Get ready, Nigerians! President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is painting a bright picture for 2026, promising a significant leap forward in economic growth and a stronger grip on security. He says the tough reforms of yesteryear are finally starting to pay off, setting the stage for a more prosperous nation. But, as always, the opposition isn’t holding back their punches, pointing to the hardships faced in 2025.
Here’s the lowdown:
- Economic Optimism: Tinubu’s administration is banking on 2026 as the year Nigeria’s economy truly takes off, with GDP growth projected to soar past 4%.
- Security Boost: Expect intensified security operations and a push for decentralized policing to tackle crime and terrorism head-on.
- Inclusion Agenda: A massive ‘Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme’ aims to bring millions into productive economic activities.
- Opposition’s Doubts: Critics like the ADC and Atiku Abubakar paint a starkly different picture, calling 2025 a year of hardship and questioning the government’s policies.
- Legislative Support: Lawmakers in the National Assembly echo the President’s optimism, crediting 2025 reforms for laying the foundation for recovery.
Tinubu’s Vision: A Brighter 2026 on the Horizon
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is sounding a confident note, declaring that 2026 will be the year Nigeria witnesses a powerful surge in economic growth. He’s touting the ongoing reforms as the secret sauce, working wonders even with global economic challenges thrown into the mix. In his New Year message, the President highlighted that Nigeria ended 2025 on a solid economic footing. Think steady growth, inflation taking a nosedive, a more stable exchange rate, and a big boost in investor confidence. He proudly stated that Nigeria saw robust GDP growth throughout 2025, expecting the yearly figure to comfortably clear the 4% mark. And guess what? Inflation dropped steadily, dipping below the government’s 15% target, all while trade surpluses were maintained.
Stock Market Soars, Foreign Reserves Strengthen
It wasn’t just the overall economy that looked good; the Nigerian Stock Exchange was a star performer in 2025, outshining many others with an impressive 48.12% gain. This continued a winning streak that started way back in mid-2023. On the international front, Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood strong at a healthy $45.4 billion by the end of December 2025, providing a solid safety net against global economic shocks and giving the Naira a good support. Tinubu is optimistic this trend will continue in 2026. He also pointed out that foreign direct investment is responding enthusiastically to the government’s reform agenda, jumping from $90 million in Q2 2025 to a whopping $720 million in Q3 2025. This surge, he believes, is a direct result of renewed investor trust and positive nods from global credit rating agencies.
Deepening Reforms for Sustainable Growth
Looking ahead, the administration plans to solidify these economic wins in 2026 by doubling down on fiscal discipline and tax reforms. The goal? To build a revenue system that’s fair, competitive, and sustainable for the long haul. Tinubu reminded everyone that he recently presented the 2026 budget to the National Assembly, emphasizing that patience, discipline, and working together are key to achieving lasting stability and prosperity for the country. As inflation and interest rates start to cool down, the government anticipates having more financial room to invest heavily in crucial infrastructure and develop its human capital.
Tackling Multiple Taxation, Boosting Revenue
A major focus will be tackling the issue of multiple taxation that burdens citizens and businesses across different government levels. Tinubu commended states that have hopped on board with the national tax harmonization plan, adopting unified tax laws to lighten the load of taxes, levies, and fees. “The new year marks a critical phase in implementing our tax reforms,” he stated, highlighting that harmonization will not only boost revenue sustainably but also correct fiscal imbalances and strengthen the nation’s ability to fund essential infrastructure and social programs.
Security First: Intensified Operations and Decentralized Policing
President Tinubu understands that economic progress needs to go hand-in-hand with peace and stability. He acknowledged the ongoing threats from criminal and terrorist groups, assuring that decisive actions were taken against terrorist targets in the North-West on December 24, with help from international allies like the United States. The Armed Forces have been relentless in their operations against terrorist strongholds in the North-West and North-East. For 2026, security and intelligence agencies are set to ramp up cooperation with regional and global partners to completely wipe out threats to national security. The President reaffirmed his commitment to a decentralized policing system, complete with proper safeguards, and complemented by well-regulated forest guards. This multi-pronged strategy is designed to effectively combat terrorism, banditry, and related challenges plaguing the nation.
Empowering Nigerians: The ‘Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme’
In 2026, Nigerians can expect tangible improvements in their daily lives thanks to an inclusive growth and social development agenda. A key initiative is the accelerated ‘Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme,’ which aims to bring at least 10 million Nigerians into productive economic activities. How? By empowering approximately 1,000 individuals in each of the country’s 8,809 wards. The program will prioritize sectors like agriculture, trade, food processing, and mining to spark local economies and create opportunities right at the grassroots level. Investment in infrastructure – roads, power, ports, railways, airports, pipelines, healthcare, education, and agriculture – will continue without interruption, strengthening food security and enhancing the overall quality of life for all citizens.
A Call for Unity and Patriotism
The President urged Nigerians to embrace unity, patriotism, and a sense of shared responsibility as they step into the new year. He emphasized that building a strong nation requires a collective effort. “Let us resolve to be better citizens, better neighbours, and better stewards of our nation,” he declared, wishing everyone a peaceful, productive, and prosperous New Year. He also offered prayers for the safety of Nigeria’s troops and for the ultimate defeat of those undermining the nation’s peace, security, and stability.
National Assembly: 2025 Reforms Pave Way for Economic Comeback
Meanwhile, the National Assembly is also looking back at 2025 as a pivotal year for Nigeria. They believe the wide-ranging reforms in taxation, governance, elections, and national security enacted during the year have successfully laid the groundwork for economic recovery in 2026. In an end-of-year statement, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele highlighted the legislature’s collaborative efforts with other government branches to implement key reforms while upholding its constitutional independence. “The year 2025 has been marked by transformative measures in nearly every sector of our economy,” Bamidele stated, pointing to the 2025 Tax Reforms Act as the most significant piece of legislation. This law, effective January 1, 2026, aims to harmonize the country’s tax system, eliminate multiple taxation, and improve resource flow, especially for those on the lower economic rungs. Bamidele encouraged Nigerians to familiarize themselves with the new law, stressing its role in addressing long-standing fiscal and liquidity challenges and positioning Nigeria for stronger global economic competition through modern tax administration.
Legislative Milestones and Future Plans
The statement also detailed progress on other legislative priorities. The review of the 1999 Constitution is in its advanced stages, with proposed amendments set to be sent to State Houses of Assembly for consideration. The aim is to devolve more power to sub-national governments to enhance governance and service delivery. On electoral reforms, work on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is nearing completion, with the bill designed to bolster the credibility and transparency of elections, and is expected to receive presidential assent in January 2026. In terms of national security, public hearings for the National Security Summit have concluded across the six geopolitical zones. The summit, scheduled for Q1 2026 in Abuja, will consolidate recommendations for improving internal security, combating violent extremism, and strengthening international partnerships. Furthermore, the consideration of the 2026 Appropriation Bill has reached the committee stage, with legislative work continuing through the festive period. The Senate is expected to resume full budget deliberations by January 27, 2026.
Opposition’s Rebuttal: A Year of Hardship and Renewed Calls for Unity
However, not everyone is sharing in the optimism. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has painted a grim picture of 2025, describing it as a challenging year for most Nigerians. They argue that the government’s promised “renewed hope” agenda actually translated into widespread hardship and a skyrocketing cost of living. The party extended condolences to the families of fallen security personnel and expressed sympathy for those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Economic Woes and Opposition’s Strategic Alliance
In their New Year message, the ADC’s National Chairman, David Mark, stated that essential items like food, medicines, and transportation have become unaffordable for many, blaming what he called misguided government policies for pushing more citizens into poverty. “The year 2025 was, without doubt, a difficult one for the majority of Nigerians,” Mark lamented. He criticized the government’s proposed tax increases, arguing they would worsen the suffering of Nigerians already struggling with economic pressures. “These taxes will not renew hope; they will renew hopelessness,” he declared. Despite the criticism, Mark highlighted 2025 as a significant year for Nigeria’s democracy, referencing the formation of an opposition party coalition under the ADC banner in July 2025. This alliance, he explained, was formed to counter what the party perceives as a slide towards authoritarianism and to offer a viable alternative to a government that, in their view, has failed to address the people’s needs.
Atiku Abubakar’s Stern Critique: ‘Punishing Year’ Under APC
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar didn’t hold back, labelling 2025 as “one of the most punishing years in our recent history.” He squarely blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for economic hardship, political recklessness, and a lack of empathy in governance. In a statement released recently, Abubakar alleged that the administration displayed “incompetence and policy bankruptcy,” governing for months without a functional budget and relying on propaganda and excessive borrowing. “Governing for months without a functional budget, the administration relied on propaganda while borrowing recklessly, pushing the nation to the brink of economic collapse,” the statement read. He accused the APC of deliberately weakening Nigeria’s democratic foundations, aiming to create a de facto one-party state through intimidation and state capture.
Worsening Insecurity and Collapsing Businesses
Abubakar also pointed to the dramatic worsening of insecurity, with kidnappings, abductions, and violent crimes surging, impacting citizens of all ages. Lives were lost, livelihoods destroyed, and communities terrorized, despite official assurances. The year, he noted, was characterized by high unemployment, underemployment, labor unrest, and the collapse of small businesses, contradicting government claims of economic recovery. “Industries shut down. Workers were sent home. Hunger spread. Suffering became normalised,” the statement grimly concluded. He criticized the government’s calls for public sacrifice while its leaders allegedly lived extravagantly, detached from the suffering of the populace. “The arrogance of this administration is unprecedented. Its contempt for public opinion, its hostility to criticism, and its willingness to punish Nigerians through bad policies reveal a government fundamentally hostile to the people,” he asserted. Abubakar also labelled the government’s anti-corruption campaign as selective and politically motivated.
While President Tinubu and the National Assembly project an optimistic outlook for 2026, fueled by reformative measures and planned investments, the opposition voices a starkly different narrative. They highlight the prevalent hardships of 2025 and express deep concerns about the government’s policies. The coming year will indeed be a test of these competing visions for Nigeria’s future.
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