President Tinubu made the statement on Thursday in a nationwide broadcast marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
Reflecting on the country’s journey since independence, the President acknowledged that Nigeria had endured difficult periods, including civil war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity and political instability.
He said the country had nevertheless survived through the resilience and determination of its people, including farmers, traders, teachers, entrepreneurs and members of the Armed Forces and security services.
Tinubu said the promise of independence went beyond the attainment of sovereignty, stressing that the country’s founding fathers envisioned a nation where citizens would have the opportunity, dignity and freedom to build better lives.
According to him, successive governments had for years delayed difficult economic decisions, allowing structural problems and economic distortions to deepen.
He defended the reforms introduced by his administration, describing them as difficult but necessary measures to address longstanding weaknesses in the economy.
The President said Nigeria’s economic outlook had improved, citing growth of more than four per cent, reduced oil theft, lower 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, describing the development as evidence of increased economic activity by Nigerian businesses.
Tinubu said the government’s focus had now shifted from economic reforms to achieving “shared and widespread prosperity”.
He said the administration would prioritise reducing the cost of living by lowering production and transportation costs while investing in agriculture, infrastructure, electricity, industrial growth and digital connectivity.
The President also outlined plans to create more productive opportunities for young Nigerians through support for businesses, skills development, access to finance and industrial expansion.
While acknowledging that many Nigerians still struggle with food, education, healthcare and transportation costs, Tinubu said the hardships were the result of challenges that had accumulated over several decades.
He said the government would continue strengthening social support programmes, including assistance for vulnerable households, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and consumer credit initiatives through CREDICORP.
Tinubu said his administration would also work with state and local governments to strengthen primary healthcare, basic education and other essential public services.
He acknowledged that eliminating poverty would take time, discipline and sustained economic growth, but said the government had laid what he described as the foundation for lasting prosperity.
“The age of reform has done its work. Now begins the age of prosperity,” he said.
Concluding his address, Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and committed to building the country together.
“Nigeria has corrected its course. We have passed through our own Red Sea. This is not the time to look back. Let us go forward together,” he said.
The President described the Nigeria ahead as a “Promised Land” of abundance and opportunity, where prosperity would be broadly shared and citizens would have greater opportunities to realise their potential.
He ended the broadcast by wishing Nigerians a happy Independence Day and praying for the continued progress of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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