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New Year: Tinubu to empower 8.8m Nigerians in 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his administration will empower at least 8.8m citizens in 2026.
He said not less than 1,000 people from each of the 8,809 wards in the country would be empowered, as part of efforts to deepen inclusive growth and deliver tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
The President disclosed this in his New Year goodwill message to Nigerians on January 1, 2026, where he described the new year as the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth for the country.
“The new year marks the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth, with tangible improvements in the lives of our people,” Tinubu said.
He said the empowerment initiative would be implemented through the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which aims to bring at least 10 million Nigerians into productive economic activity by empowering at least 1,000 people in each ward across the country.
According to him, the programme will stimulate local economies through agriculture, trade, food processing and mining, while expanding grassroots economic opportunities nationwide.
Tinubu said the initiative builds on economic reforms sustained throughout 2025, during which the government carried out what he described as a fiscal reset and recorded steady economic progress despite global economic headwinds.
“We had a fiscal reset and also recorded steady economic progress,” the President said, adding that the gains recorded “reaffirm our belief that the difficult but necessary reforms we embarked upon are moving us in the right direction with more concrete results on the horizon for the ordinary Nigerian.”
On economic performance, Tinubu said Nigeria recorded robust GDP growth in every quarter of 2025, with annualised growth expected to exceed four per cent.
“We maintained trade surpluses and achieved greater exchange rate stability. Inflation declined steadily and reached below 15 per cent, in line with our target,” he said.
The President said the Nigerian Stock Exchange outperformed its peers in 2025, posting a 48.12 per cent gain, while foreign reserves stood at $45.4bn as of December 29, 2025, providing “a substantial buffer against external shocks for the Naira.”
He added that foreign direct investment rose to $720m in the third quarter of 2025 from $90m in the preceding quarter, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction, which he said had been “consistently affirmed and applauded” by global credit rating agencies, including Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s.
On fiscal policy, Tinubu said he recently presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, stressing that fiscal discipline and tax reforms would be critical to sustaining growth.
“The new year marks a critical phase in implementing our tax reforms, designed to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for Nigeria,” he said.
He said harmonising the tax system would raise revenue sustainably, address fiscal distortions and strengthen the country’s capacity to finance infrastructure and social investments, while commending states that had adopted harmonised tax laws to reduce the burden of multiple taxation.
On infrastructure, the President said the government would continue investing in roads, power, ports, railways, airports, pipelines, healthcare, education and agriculture, stressing that “all ongoing projects will continue without interruption.”
On security, Tinubu said economic progress must be accompanied by peace and stability, noting that decisive actions were taken against terrorist targets in parts of the North-West on December 24, in collaboration with international partners, including the United States.
He said operations had since been sustained against terrorist networks and criminal strongholds across the North-West and North-East.
The President reaffirmed his belief that “a decentralised policing system with appropriate safeguards, complemented by properly regulated forest guards, all anchored on accountability,” was critical to addressing terrorism, banditry and related security challenges.
Calling for unity, Tinubu urged Nigerians to embrace shared responsibility in nation-building.
“Nation-building is a shared responsibility,” he said. “Let us resolve to be better citizens, better neighbours, and better stewards of our nation.”
The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.
While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.
President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.
Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.
Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.
He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.
If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.
Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.
According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.
“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.
“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.
The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.
He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.
“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.
The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.
He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.
The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.
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