The Federal Government says reforms implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration have laid the foundation for economic growth and shared prosperity, despite the difficult adjustments faced by Nigerians….
The Federal Government says reforms implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration have laid the foundation for economic growth and shared prosperity, despite the difficult adjustments faced by Nigerians.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Thursday in Abuja at a World Press Conference to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Idris said the anniversary was an opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s journey, acknowledge the resilience of its people and renew the commitment to building a more prosperous, secure and united country.
“Those decisions were difficult, and Nigerians have borne real costs.
Today, however, Nigeria is moving from the difficult work of reform and stabilisation towards a new phase of growth, production and shared prosperity,” he said.
The minister said Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, up from 4.23 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.
He also cited stronger foreign reserves, increased domestic refining capacity, investment and productive activity, as well as Nigeria’s delisting from the Financial Action Task Force Grey List and return to the JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index after 11 years.
“Our external position has strengthened, foreign reserves have risen, domestic refining capacity has expanded, and investment and productive activity are gaining momentum,” Idris said.
He acknowledged that significant challenges remained, stressing that the ultimate goal was to ensure that economic gains translated into better living conditions for Nigerians.
“Our responsibility is to hand the next generation a Nigeria that is more prosperous, more secure, more united and more confident than the one we inherited,” he said.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said Nigeria’s 66-year journey had recorded significant milestones, including uninterrupted constitutional democracy since 1999.
Akume said the focus should now be on consolidating the gains of the reforms and ensuring that ordinary Nigerians benefit from them.
“The task before us today, as leaders and citizens, is consolidation. We must ensure that the gains from reform translate into better opportunities for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
He said the Federal Government was mobilising revenue, improving public finances and implementing interventions across infrastructure, agriculture, education, health and social protection.
“The guiding principle is that while we reform our economy, we must protect those who are already struggling. No one in poverty should be forgotten,” Akume said.
The SGF said the administration would also continue strengthening security, supporting the private sector and promoting national cohesion to extend economic opportunities across the country.
“From reforms, we have built stability. From stability, let us deepen growth and opportunity, and from growth, let us extend shared prosperity to every corner of Nigeria,” he said.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the reforms were designed to make deliberate policy choices that would build a larger and more inclusive economy.
“We are not yet where we want to be. What is important is to identify what are the choices that we need to make so that we can go to where we want to be,” Bagudu said.
On security, Idris acknowledged that challenges persisted but said the government had increased investment in equipment, intelligence, personnel and inter-agency coordination.
“Now, does it mean that we have solved all the security challenges in this country? No, and there is so much progress,” he said.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said improved access to farmlands in previously affected areas, alongside government support for fertiliser and improved seeds, was contributing to increased agricultural production.
“We have seen a lot of areas in the centre; 70 per cent of those places that were hitherto under security have been liberated. We have seen an increase in production today,” Kyari said.
The World Press Conference was part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and was attended by several ministers, senior government officials and other
Credit to our Media Partner TVC News .
