President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria has moved beyond the difficult phase of his administration’s economic reforms and is entering what he described as an “age of prosperity.”

Tinubu made the declaration in his Independence Day address to Nigerians on Thursday as the country marked its 66th anniversary, saying the government’s economic priority had shifted from correcting structural weaknesses to delivering shared and widespread prosperity. 

According to the President, the reforms implemented over the past three years were necessary to address longstanding weaknesses in the economy, although he acknowledged that their effects had been difficult for many Nigerians.

“The emergency treatment is over. The foundation has been repaired,” Tinubu said, adding that the government’s central economic task had now changed.

He said Nigeria’s economy had grown by more than four per cent in 2026, while both the oil and non-oil sectors contributed to the growth. He also cited lower inflation from its peak, improved foreign exchange stability, rebuilt foreign reserves and record non-oil export revenue of more than $6bn in 2025 as evidence of progress. 

Tinubu said the government would now focus more directly on reducing poverty, creating millions of productive opportunities and improving the living standards of Nigerians.

He said the administration’s objective was not merely to manage poverty but to “defeat it,” adding that achieving that goal would require sustained economic growth, discipline and continued investment.

The President also said his administration had continued to pay salaries and pensions on time and had reformed the national pension system to support retirees and vulnerable Nigerians.

Tinubu acknowledged that the road ahead would still require sacrifices but urged Nigerians to remain committed to the country’s future.

“The age of reform has done its work. Now begins the age of prosperity,” he declared, calling on Nigerians to move forward together and ensure that the promise of a prosperous Nigeria becomes a reality for citizens.