Fellow Compatriots,

I welcome you all to 2026, with gratitude to God and confidence in our collective resolve that this new year will be a more prosperous one for our nation, our citizens, and all who call Nigeria home.

During 2025, we sustained the momentum on our major reforms.

We had a fiscal reset and also recorded steady economic progress.

Despite persistent global economic headwinds, 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.

As we enter 2026, our focus is on consolidating these gains and continuing to build a resilient, sustainable, inclusive and growth-oriented economy.

We closed 2025 on a strong note. Despite policies to fight inflation, Nigeria recorded robust GDP growth each quarter, with annualised growth expected to exceed four per cent.

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 posted a 48.12 per cent gain, consolidating its bullish run.

Supported by sound monetary policy management, our foreign reserves stood at 45.4 billion dollars as of Dec. 29, 2025.

Foreign direct investment rose to 720 million dollars in the third quarter of 2025, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction.

A few days ago, I presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, emphasising that our reforms are laying a solid foundation for long-term stability and prosperity.

We are confronting the challenge of multiple taxation across all tiers of government. The new year marks a critical phase in implementing tax reforms designed to build a fair and robust fiscal foundation for Nigeria.

On security, we remain mindful that economic progress must be accompanied by peace and stability.

Our Armed Forces have sustained operations against terrorist networks across the Northwest and Northeast.

In 2026, our security agencies will deepen cooperation with regional and global partners to eliminate threats to national security.

We will accelerate the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme to empower at least 10 million Nigerians through agriculture, trade, mining and food processing.

We will continue to invest in infrastructure, including roads, power, ports, railways, healthcare and education. All ongoing projects will continue without interruption.

Nation-building is a shared responsibility. Let us stand together in unity, patriotism and service to our country.

I wish you all a peaceful, productive and prosperous New Year.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.