By Ibrahim Muhammad
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday presented a ₦58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, outlining tougher security measures, stricter fiscal discipline and deeper economic reforms.
During the presentation, the President declared that all armed groups operating outside the authority of the state would henceforth be treated as terrorists.
Tagged the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” the proposal aims to consolidate recent macroeconomic gains, restore investor confidence and translate economic recovery into job creation and improved living standards for Nigerians.
Tinubu began his budget speech at 3:31pm and was still addressing lawmakers as of 4:02pm, noting that he was fulfilling his constitutional responsibility by presenting the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Describing the moment as “defining” in Nigeria’s reform journey, the President acknowledged the hardship experienced by citizens over the past two and a half years, but assured them that the sacrifices would yield positive outcomes.
He said the economy was showing clear signs of stabilisation, citing a 3.98 per cent GDP growth in the third quarter of 2025 and a moderation of inflation for eight consecutive months to 14.45 per cent in November 2025.
Tinubu also pointed to improved oil production, stronger non-oil revenue performance and rising investor confidence as indicators of recovery.
According to him, Nigeria’s external reserves rose to a seven-year high of about $47 billion by mid-November 2025, providing more than 10 months of import cover.
“These outcomes are not accidental; they reflect difficult but deliberate policy choices,” the President said, stressing that the focus ahead was to ensure that stability translates into shared prosperity for all Nigerians.
