President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria’s next major challenge is achieving economic freedom, stressing that the benefits of democracy must be reflected in the lives and livelihoods of citizens.
Speaking during his 2026 Democracy Day address, Tinubu said while the heroes of the June 12 struggle secured political freedom for Nigerians, the responsibility of the present generation is to deliver prosperity and economic opportunity.
“June 12, 1993 revealed the possibility of a true Nigerian nation. The heroes of June 12 secured political freedom. Our challenge is to secure economic freedom,” the President said.
Tinubu defended the economic reforms introduced by his administration, describing them as difficult but necessary measures aimed at stabilising the nation’s finances and laying the foundation for long-term growth.
According to him, Nigeria’s public finances were under severe strain before the reforms were implemented. He noted that since 2023, government revenues have increased, fiscal leakages have been reduced, and investor confidence has improved across key sectors, including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining, and the creative industry.
The President outlined several initiatives designed to improve electricity supply and ensure that citizens benefit directly from democratic governance.
Among the measures highlighted were the signing of the Electricity Act, which grants states greater control over power generation and distribution, the approval of a ₦4 trillion bond to clear legacy debts in the power sector, and the expansion of off grid electricity projects to universities, hospitals, and markets through the Rural Electrification Agency.
On agriculture and economic development, Tinubu announced plans to deploy 10,000 tractors over the next five years through the National Agricultural Development Fund to boost food production and mechanised farming.
He also revealed that more than 1,000 small and medium sized enterprises have been certified for export, while non-oil exports recorded a 21 per cent increase in the past year.
In a symbolic move to honour Nigeria’s democratic history, the President announced the renaming of the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
Tinubu further unveiled national honors for prodemocracy activists, journalists, and military officers who endured persecution, imprisonment, and exile during Nigeria’s struggle for democratic rule.
The President urged Nigerians to remain united and focused on national development, emphasizing that the current generation has a duty to build a prosperous nation for future generations.
“Every generation has a defining responsibility. The generation of our founding fathers secured independence, the generation of June 12 secured democracy, and our generation must secure prosperity,” he said.
He called on citizens to reject division and pessimism, expressing confidence in a future where justice, liberty, and economic opportunity are available to all Nigerians.
