Tinubu Declares ‘Age of Prosperity’ as Nigeria Marks 66th Independence Anniversary

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria has passed through its own “Red Sea” and is now entering what he described as an “age of prosperity”, as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

Tinubu made the statement on Thursday during his nationwide broadcast to Nigerians to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The President said Nigeria’s journey since independence had been marked by civil war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity and political upheaval, but maintained that the country had continued to endure because of the resilience of its people.

He said the founding promise of independence went beyond having a national flag and sovereignty, arguing that it was about giving Nigerians the opportunity to shape their own destiny and build a country capable of providing dignity, opportunity and a better standard of living.

Tinubu said his administration inherited an economy facing serious structural problems in 2023 and decided to implement difficult reforms rather than continue what he described as policies that merely treated the symptoms of deeper economic problems.

Using a medical analogy, the President compared the Nigerian economy to a patient suffering from cancer who had to choose between painful treatment and temporary relief.

“For too long, Nigeria’s leaders chose morphine while praying for a miracle that never came.”

Tinubu said the reforms introduced by his administration, including the removal of petrol subsidies and changes to the foreign exchange system, had been difficult but necessary.

He argued that the reforms did not create Nigeria’s underlying economic weaknesses but were intended to address them.

The President also criticised unnamed “influential but regressive voices” calling for a return to fuel subsidies, urging Nigerians to remember the reasons behind the reforms.

According to Tinubu, Nigeria’s economic outlook has improved after three years of reforms.

He said the economy had grown by more than four per cent in 2026, with both the oil and non-oil sectors contributing to growth.

He also cited lower oil theft, a decline in inflation from its peak, increased foreign reserves, greater stability in the foreign exchange market and record non-oil export revenue of more than $6 billion in 2025.

The President said the country had reached a turning point and that the focus of his administration was shifting from economic stabilisation to improving prosperity and living standards.

“The emergency treatment is over. The foundation has been repaired. The central economic task before us has changed. For three years, our overriding purpose was to correct our nation’s course. Now, our purpose is simple: shared and widespread prosperity.”

Tinubu said his administration would focus on reducing the cost of living by lowering the cost of producing and transporting goods.

He listed mechanised irrigation, dry-season farming, improved access to seeds and fertiliser, agricultural mechanisation, storage facilities and transportation infrastructure among the areas his government would continue to invest in.

He said the government was also working to connect farms and factories to markets through roads, railways and ports.

According to the President, reducing production and transportation costs should eventually translate into lower prices for consumers.

He also placed job creation and industrial development at the centre of the next phase of his administration.

Tinubu said Nigeria would use its gas resources to support new industries, revive factories, expand digital connectivity and develop the skills required by employers.

He said his administration wanted to see more Nigerians producing goods locally, more farms supplying cities and factories, and Nigerian businesses exporting products to international markets.

“I want young Nigerians building unicorns and creating opportunities for others here at home.”

The President, however, acknowledged that millions of Nigerians were still struggling with food costs, school fees, medical bills and transportation expenses.

He said the hardship faced by many Nigerians predated his administration and was the result of decades of low productivity, inadequate infrastructure, limited opportunities and weaknesses in public institutions.

Tinubu said the government could not eliminate problems that had accumulated over generations within four years but could change the country’s direction.

He pointed to programmes including the National Social Register, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, and CREDICORP as part of efforts to support vulnerable Nigerians while the economy moves towards broader prosperity.

He said NELFUND was helping students from low-income families access higher education, while CREDICORP was providing working Nigerians with access to credit for assets such as vehicles, solar systems and digital devices.

Tinubu also said his administration would continue working with state and local governments to strengthen primary healthcare, basic education and other essential public services.

He claimed that since 2023, salaries and pensions had been paid on time and in full, while the national pension programme had also been reformed.

The President described these social programmes as a bridge towards prosperity rather than a permanent solution to poverty.

“Our objective is not to manage poverty more efficiently. We will defeat it.”

Tinubu said achieving that objective would require sustained economic growth, discipline and the creation of millions of productive opportunities.

He maintained that his administration had now created what he described as a stronger foundation for that next phase.

“The age of reform has done its work. Now begins the age of prosperity.”

The President’s address also returned to the theme of national unity and collective responsibility.

He said Nigerians had endured difficult years together and would have to work together to build on the economic changes introduced by his administration.

Tinubu concluded by drawing on the biblical account of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, saying Nigeria had passed through its own difficult period and should now look ahead.

“Nigeria has corrected its course. We have passed through our own Red Sea. This is not the time to look back.”

He described the “Promised Land” ahead as a Nigeria where prosperity would be broadly shared, children could dream beyond the circumstances of their birth and the country’s natural and human resources would translate into better living conditions.

“Our destination is in sight. Our foundations are strong. Our direction is clear. So let us go forward. No looking back.”

The President ended the broadcast by wishing Nigerians a happy Independence Day and asking for God’s blessing on the country.

Tinubu’s speech comes as Nigeria begins its 67th year as an independent nation, with the government presenting the next phase of its economic programme as a shift from stabilisation and reform towards growth, job creation and broader prosperity.