President Bola Tinubu on Friday used the 2026 Democracy Day celebration to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to security, economic reforms and democratic governance, while urging Nigerians, particularly youths, to remain hopeful and contribute to nation-building.
In a nationwide broadcast marking 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, Tinubu paid tribute to the heroes and heroines of the June 12 struggle, announcing national honours for dozens of pro-democracy activists, journalists, politicians and military officers who played key roles in the fight against military rule.
The President said his administration was making progress in tackling insecurity, revealing that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised in the past year, while over 124,000 fighters and their dependents had surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023. He added that the government had approved the recruitment of over 50,000 police officers and allocated a record N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget.
On the economy, Tinubu defended ongoing reforms, saying they had restored stability, improved government revenues and attracted investments across key sectors, including agriculture, energy, manufacturing and technology. He noted that domestic refining capacity had increased and highlighted efforts to improve electricity supply through the implementation of the Electricity Act and investments in power infrastructure.
Acknowledging the economic hardship faced by many Nigerians, the President assured citizens that his administration remained focused on reducing inflation, boosting food production, creating jobs and improving living standards.
Tinubu also called on young Nigerians to build their future in the country rather than seek opportunities abroad, stressing that every great nation was built by citizens committed to solving local challenges.
As part of the Democracy Day celebrations, the President announced the renaming of the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna after the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and promised that the full list of national honours recipients would be released in the coming days.
He urged Nigerians to remain united despite current challenges, expressing confidence that the country would overcome insecurity and economic difficulties while consolidating democratic gains.
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