Nigeria At 66: Read Tinubu’s Full Independence Day Speech To Nigerians

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified the reduction of the cost of living as a central priority of his administration, saying the government will focus on lowering the cost of producing and transporting goods and services across Nigeria.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Tinubu made the remarks in his national broadcast on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary. He said the country had gone through difficult economic reforms and that the government’s focus must now shift toward translating economic gains into broader prosperity for citizens.

The President said Nigeria’s economy had grown by more than four per cent in 2026, while oil theft had declined, inflation had fallen from its peak and the foreign exchange market had stabilised. He also highlighted the rebuilding of foreign reserves and said the country recorded more than $6 billion in non-oil export revenue in 2025.

Tinubu said the next phase of his administration would focus on ensuring that economic growth produces tangible benefits for Nigerians, including more jobs, higher incomes, affordable food and transportation, improved access to education and greater opportunities for businesses.

He said the government would expand mechanised irrigation and dry-season farming, improve access to agricultural inputs, strengthen mechanisation and invest in storage and transportation infrastructure. He added that roads, railways and ports were being developed to improve connections between farms, factories and markets.

According to the President, reducing production and transportation costs would eventually help bring down the prices of goods. He said lower farming costs, reduced post-harvest losses, improved electricity supply for manufacturers, faster movement of goods and a more competitive business environment could contribute to cheaper products for consumers.

Tinubu also outlined measures aimed at increasing employment and industrial production, including the use of gas to support new industries, efforts to revive factories in industrial centres, expanded digital connectivity and investment in skills and financing for Nigerian businesses.

He said his administration was also conscious of the difficulties faced by vulnerable Nigerians and would continue strengthening social support programmes. He mentioned the National Social Register, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and CREDICORP as initiatives intended to provide assistance, education access and consumer credit to eligible citizens.

The President further said the government would continue working with state and local authorities to strengthen primary healthcare, basic education and other essential public services. He said salaries and pensions had been paid on time and that reforms to the national pension system were aimed at benefiting retirees and vulnerable citizens.

Tinubu acknowledged that the economic challenges facing Nigerians had accumulated over several decades and said they could not be eliminated within a short period. However, he maintained that the government had changed the country’s economic direction through its reforms and that the focus should now be on sustained growth and widespread prosperity.

“The age of reform has done its work. Now begins the age of prosperity,” Tinubu said, presenting the next phase of his administration as one focused on turning economic reforms into improved living conditions and broader opportunities for Nigerians.

He urged Nigerians to continue looking forward rather than returning to what he described as the difficulties of the past, expressing confidence that the country could achieve greater prosperity through sustained economic growth, production and opportunity.

Tinubu concluded his Independence Day address by calling on Nigerians to move forward together and work toward a country where prosperity is broadly shared and every child has the opportunity to achieve their aspirations.