President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria has entered a new phase focused on shared prosperity as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.
Tinubu said this in his Independence Day address to Nigerians on Thursday, describing the past three years as a period of difficult economic reforms aimed at correcting the country’s economic direction.
According to him, the reforms had helped stabilise the economy, with growth exceeding four per cent, inflation falling from its peak, foreign reserves rebuilt and the foreign exchange market stabilised.
“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,” he said.
The President said the government’s priority would be to reduce the cost of living by lowering the cost of producing and transporting goods.
He said the government would expand mechanised farming, improve access to seeds and fertiliser, invest in storage and transportation, and develop roads, railways and ports connecting farms and factories to markets.
Tinubu also said his administration would prioritise jobs, enterprise and industrial growth by using gas to power industries, expanding digital connectivity, developing skills and supporting Nigerian businesses with infrastructure and finance.
He acknowledged that millions of Nigerians were still struggling with food, education, healthcare and transportation costs, saying the government would strengthen support for vulnerable households and improve access to education, healthcare and other essential services.
The President said the government’s objective was not merely to manage poverty but to defeat it through sustained economic growth and the creation of productive opportunities.
“The age of reform has done its work. Now begins the age of prosperity,” Tinubu said.
He urged Nigerians to move forward with faith in themselves and the country, saying the government’s goal was to build a nation where prosperity was broadly shared and every child could dream beyond the circumstances of their birth.
Tinubu wished Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Day and prayed for the continued progress of the country.
