NATIONAL BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY BOLA AHNED TINUBU, GCFR, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE 65TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY OF NIGERIA, OCTOBER 1, 2025
Fellow Nigerians,
Immediately marks the sixty fifth anniversary of our nice nation’s Independence. As we mirror on the importance of this present day and our journey of nationhood since October 1, 1960, when our founding fathers accepted the devices of self-government from colonial rule, allow us to keep in mind their sacrifice, devotion, and grand dream of a powerful, affluent, and united Nigeria that may lead Africa and be the beacon of sunshine to the remainder of the world.
Our founding heroes and heroines—Herbert Macaulay, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Margaret Ekpo, Anthony Enahoro, Ladoke Akintola, Michael Okpara, Aminu Kano, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and different nationalists—believed it was Nigeria’s manifest future to guide the whole black race as the most important black nation on earth.
For many years, the promise of our Independence has been examined by profound social, financial, and political challenges, and now we have survived. Whereas we could not have achieved all of the lofty goals of our forebearers, now we have not strayed too removed from them. In 65 years since our Independence, now we have made large progress in financial development, social cohesion, and bodily growth. Our financial system has skilled important development since 1960.
Though, it’s a lot simpler for these whose vocation is to focus solely on what should be, we should recognise and have a good time our important progress. Nigerians at this time have entry to raised training and healthcare than in 1960. At Independence, Nigeria had 120 secondary faculties with a scholar inhabitants of about 130,000. Accessible knowledge point out that, as of yr 2024, there have been greater than 23,000 secondary faculties in our nation. At Independence, we had solely the College of Ibadan and Yaba School of Know-how as the 2 tertiary establishments in Nigeria. By the tip of final yr, there have been 274 universities, 183 Polytechnics, and 236 Schools of Training in Nigeria, comprising Federal, State, and personal establishments. Now we have skilled a major surge in development throughout each sector of our nationwide life since Independence – in healthcare, infrastructure, monetary providers, manufacturing, telecommunications, data expertise, aviation and defence, amongst others.
Our nation has skilled each the nice and the unhealthy occasions in its 65 years of nationhood, as is regular for each nation and its individuals. We fought a bitter and avoidable civil struggle, skilled navy dictatorships, and lived via main political crises. In all these, we weathered each storm and overcame each problem with braveness, grit, and unusual dedication. Whereas our system and ties that bind us are generally stretched by insidious forces against our values and methods of life, we proceed to attempt to construct a extra good union the place each Nigerian can discover higher lodging and discover function and fulfilment.
Fellow Compatriots, that is the third time I’ll tackle you on our independence anniversary since I assumed workplace as your President on Could 29, 2023. Within the final 28 months of my administration, like our founding fathers and leaders who got here earlier than me, I’ve dedicated myself irrevocably to the unfinished nation-building enterprise.
Upon assuming workplace, our administration inherited a near-collapsed financial system brought on by many years of fiscal coverage distortions and misalignment that had impaired actual development. As a brand new administration, we confronted a easy selection: proceed enterprise as traditional and watch our nation drift, or embark on a brave, elementary reform path. We selected the trail of reform. We selected the trail of tomorrow over the consolation of at this time. Lower than three years later, the seeds of these troublesome however needed choices are bearing fruit.
In resetting our nation for sustainable development, we ended the corrupt gasoline subsidies and a number of overseas alternate charges that created huge incentives for a rentier financial system, benefiting solely a tiny minority. On the similar time, the lots obtained little or nothing from our Commonwealth. Our administration has redirected the financial system in direction of a extra inclusive path, channelling cash to fund training, healthcare, nationwide safety, agriculture, and important financial infrastructure, comparable to roads, energy, broadband, and social funding programmes. These initiatives will typically enhance Nigerians’ high quality of life. On account of the robust choices we made, the Federal and State governments, together with Native Governments, now have extra assets to maintain the individuals on the decrease degree of the ladder, to deal with our growth challenges.
Fellow Nigerians, we’re racing towards time. We should construct the roads we want, restore those which have change into decrepit, and assemble the colleges our kids will attend and the hospitals that may take care of our individuals. Now we have to plan for the generations that may come after us. We should not have sufficient electrical energy to energy our industries and houses at this time, or the assets to restore our deteriorating roads, construct seaports, railroads, and worldwide airports similar to the most effective on this planet, as a result of we did not make the mandatory investments many years in the past. Our administration is setting issues proper.
I’m happy to report that now we have lastly turned the nook. The worst is over, I say. Yesterday’s pains are giving option to reduction. I salute your endurance, help, and understanding. I’ll proceed to be just right for you and justify the boldness you reposed in me to steer the ship of our nation to a secure harbour.
Underneath our management, our financial system is recovering quick, and the reforms we began over two years in the past are delivering tangible outcomes. The second quarter 2025 Gross Home Product grew by 4.23%—Nigeria’s quickest tempo in 4 years—and outpaced the three.4 per cent projected by the Worldwide Financial Fund. Inflation declined to twenty.12% in August 2025, the bottom degree in three years. The administration is working diligently to spice up agricultural manufacturing and guarantee meals safety, decreasing meals prices.
Within the final two years of our administration, now we have achieved 12 outstanding financial milestones on account of the implementation of our sound fiscal and financial insurance policies:
Now we have attained a record-breaking improve in non-oil income, attaining the 2025 goal by August with over N20 trillion. In September 2025 alone, we raised N3.65 trillion, 411% greater than the quantity raised in Could 2023.
Now we have restored Fiscal Well being: Our debt service-to-revenue ratio has been considerably diminished from 97% to under 50%. Now we have paid down the notorious “Methods and Means” advances that threatened our financial stability and triggered inflation. Following the removing of the corrupt petroleum subsidy, now we have freed up trillions of Naira for focused funding in the actual financial system and social programmes for essentially the most weak, in addition to all tiers of presidency.
Now we have a stronger overseas Reserve place than three years in the past. Our exterior reserves elevated to $42.03 billion this September—the very best since 2019.
Our tax-to-GDP ratio has risen to 13.5 per cent from lower than 10 per cent. The ratio is predicted to extend additional when the brand new tax legislation takes impact in January. The tax legislation just isn’t about rising the burden on present taxpayers however about increasing the bottom to construct the Nigeria we deserve and offering tax reduction to low-income earners.
We at the moment are a Web Exporter: Nigeria has recorded a commerce surplus for 5 consecutive quarters. We at the moment are promoting extra to the world than we’re shopping for, a elementary shift that strengthens our forex and creates jobs at residence. Nigeria’s commerce surplus elevated by 44.3% in Q2 2025 to ₦7.46 trillion ($4.74 billion), the most important in about three years. Items manufactured in Nigeria and exported jumped by 173%. Non-oil exports, as a element of our export commerce, now symbolize 48 per cent, in comparison with oil exports, which account for 52 per cent. This alerts that we’re diversifying our financial system and overseas alternate sources outdoors oil and fuel.
Oil manufacturing rebounded to 1.68 million barrels per day from barely a million in Could 2023. The rise occurred resulting from improved safety, new investments, and higher stakeholder administration within the Niger Delta. Moreover, the nation has made notable developments by refining PMS domestically for the primary time in 4 many years. It has additionally established itself because the continent’s main exporter of aviation gasoline.
The Naira has stabilised from the turbulence and volatility witnessed in 2023 and 2024. The hole between the official fee and the unofficial market has diminished considerably, following FX reforms and recent capital and remittance inflows. The a number of alternate charges, which fostered corruption and arbitrage, at the moment are a part of historical past. Moreover, our forex fee towards the greenback is not decided by fluctuations in crude oil costs.
Underneath the social funding programme to help poor households and weak Nigerians, N330 billion has been disbursed to eight million households, lots of whom have obtained both one or two out of the three tranches of the N25,000 every.
Coal mining recovered dramatically from a 22% decline in Q1 to 57.5% development in Q2, turning into one in every of Nigeria’s fastest-growing sectors. The stable mineral sector is now pivotal in our financial system, encouraging value-added manufacturing of minerals extracted from our soil.
The administration is increasing transport infrastructure throughout the nation, masking rail, roads, airports, and seaports. Rail and water transport grew by over 40% and 27%, respectively. The 284-kilometre Kano-Kastina-Maradi Customary Gauge rail venture and the Kaduna-Kano rail line are nearing completion. Work is progressing properly on the legacy Lagos-Calabar Coastal Freeway and Sokoto-Badagry Freeway. The Federal Govt Council lately authorised $3 billion to finish the Jap Rail Undertaking.
The world is taking discover of our efforts. Sovereign credit standing businesses have upgraded their outlook for Nigeria, recognising our improved financial fundamentals. Our inventory market is experiencing an unprecedented increase, rising from an all-share index of 55,000 factors in Could 2003 to 142,000 factors as of September 26, 2025.
At its final MPC assembly, the Central Financial institution slashed rates of interest for the primary time in 5 years, expressing confidence in our nation’s macroeconomic stability.
SECURITY:
We’re working diligently to boost nationwide safety, making certain our financial system experiences improved development and efficiency. The officers and males of our armed forces and different safety businesses are working tirelessly and making important sacrifices to maintain us secure. They’re profitable the struggle towards terrorism, banditry and different violent crimes. We see their victories of their blood and sweat to stamp out Boko Haram Terror in North-East, IPOB/ESN terror in South East and banditry and kidnapping. We should proceed to have a good time their gallantry and salute their braveness on behalf of a grateful nation. Peace has returned to a whole bunch of our liberated communities in North-West and North-East, and 1000’s of our individuals have returned safely to their properties.
YOUTH:
I’ve a message for our younger individuals. You’re the future and the best belongings of this blessed nation. You could proceed to dream massive, innovate, and conquer extra territories in your numerous fields of science, expertise, sports activities, and the artwork and artistic sector. Our administration, via insurance policies and funding, will proceed to present you wings to fly sky-high. We created NELFUND to help college students with loans for his or her academic pursuits. Roughly 510,000 college students throughout 36 states and the FCT have benefited from this initiative, masking 228 greater establishments. As of September 10, the overall mortgage disbursed was N99.5 billion, whereas the maintenance allowance stood at N44.7 billion.
Credicorp, one other initiative of our administration, has granted 153,000 Nigerians N30 billion reasonably priced loans for autos, photo voltaic vitality, residence upgrades, digital gadgets, and extra.
YouthCred, which I promised final June, is a actuality, with tens of 1000’s of NYSC members now energetic beneficiaries of shopper credit score for resettlement.
Underneath our Renewed Hope Agenda, we promised to construct a Nigeria the place each younger particular person, no matter background, has an equitable alternative to entry a greater future—thus, the Funding in Digital and Inventive Enterprises (iDICE) programme. The Financial institution of Trade is driving the programme, in collaboration with the African Growth Financial institution, the French Growth Company, and the Islamic Growth Financial institution. This initiative is on the cusp of implementation. During the last two years, now we have collaborated with our companions to launch the programme, supporting our younger builders and dreamers within the expertise and artistic sectors.
A MESSAGE OF HOPE
Fellow Nigerians, I’ve at all times candidly acknowledged that these reforms have include some short-term pains. The biting results of inflation and the rising price of residing stay a major concern to our authorities. Nevertheless, the choice of permitting our nation to descend into financial chaos or chapter was not an choice. Our macro-economic progress has confirmed that our sacrifices haven’t been in useless. Collectively, we’re laying a brand new basis solid in concrete, not on quicksand.
The correct measure of our success is not going to be restricted to financial statistics alone, however moderately within the meals on our households’ tables, the standard of training our kids obtain, the electrical energy in our properties, and the safety in our communities. Let me guarantee you of our administration’s dedication to make sure that the assets now we have saved and the steadiness now we have constructed are channelled into these essential areas. Immediately, the governors on the state degree, and the native authorities autonomy are yielding extra developments.
Subsequently, on this sixty fifth Anniversary of Our Independence, my message is hope and a name to motion. The federal authorities will proceed to do its half to repair the plumbing in our financial system. Now, we should all activate the faucets of productiveness, innovation, and enterprise, identical to the Ministry of Inside has achieved with our journey passports, by quickening the processing. On this regard, I urge the sub-national entities to hitch us in nation-building. Allow us to be a nation of producers, not simply shoppers. Allow us to farm our land and construct factories to course of our produce. Allow us to patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ items. I say Nigeria first. Allow us to pay our taxes.
Lastly, let all arms be on deck. Allow us to consider, as soon as extra, within the boundless potential of our nice nation.
With Almighty God on our facet, I can guarantee you that the daybreak of a brand new, affluent, self-reliant Nigeria is right here.
Completely satisfied sixty fifth Independence Anniversary, and should God proceed to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Amen.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
