The Federal Government has acknowledged that Nigerians are still grappling with poverty, insecurity and infrastructure deficits, but said the country has made significant progress in the 66 years since independence.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, stated this on Thursday in Abuja at a world press conference to flag off activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1, 2026.
Akume said Nigeria had, despite its challenges, maintained its sovereignty and territorial integrity, sustained 27 years of uninterrupted constitutional democracy, diversified its economy and developed a strong pool of human capital.
The SGF, who spoke on the theme, ‘From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity,’ said the anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the country’s achievements, challenges and responsibilities for the future.
According to him, Nigeria has evolved from a colonial economy largely dependent on agriculture to a major oil-producing nation with growing telecommunications, banking, manufacturing and services sectors.
He added that the country’s economy now ranks among the top 20 globally, while Nigerian entrepreneurs, professionals, scientists, artists and athletes continue to make contributions on the international stage.
Akume, however, acknowledged that poverty remained a major challenge, stressing that ‘many Nigerians still face hardships in their daily lives and experiences.’
He also identified terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violence as major security challenges in parts of the country, while noting that infrastructure deficits in power, roads, ports, rail, health and education continued to constrain national development.
He said the government was committed to addressing the challenges through consistent policies, stronger institutions and sustained investment.
On the reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration, Akume said the government had, since 2023, undertaken what he described as difficult but necessary structural reforms, including the removal of the fuel subsidy, unification of foreign exchange windows and tighter fiscal and monetary policies.
He said the reforms were aimed at restoring fiscal balance and creating the foundation for investment and economic growth.
The SGF said the next phase was to consolidate the gains of the reforms and ensure that improved economic stability translated into better opportunities for Nigerians.
He said the Federal Government was mobilising additional revenues, improving public finances, accelerating non-oil revenue collection and attracting new investments.
Akume also highlighted infrastructure development as a priority, saying the government was investing in roads, railways, airports, seaports, electricity generation and transmission, as well as digital connectivity.
He said the investments were designed to reduce the cost of doing business, connect farmers to markets and stimulate industrial activity.
On agriculture, the SGF said the government was supporting farmers with improved seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, storage and processing facilities, while the National Agricultural Development Fund had also been established to support the sector.
He said the administration was equally expanding access to education and improving the quality of schools and teachers.
Akume noted that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund Act, signed into law in May 2024, established a student loan programme designed to enable more young Nigerians to access tertiary education.
He also listed social protection interventions, including conditional cash transfers, NG-CARES, school feeding and vocational training programmes, as measures aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians during the economic adjustment.
On security, the SGF said the armed forces and security agencies were intensifying operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and oil theft.
He said the government was improving intelligence gathering, modernising security equipment and strengthening coordination among the military, police and local communities.
According to him, President Tinubu had also approved the development of a new National Threat Assessment and a five-year Defence Plan to provide a coherent national security strategy.
Akume said the ultimate objective was to create a Nigeria where parents could send their children to school without fear, markets could operate safely, and communities could thrive.
He further stressed the need for the benefits of economic growth to reach communities across the country, particularly through the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which he said would support grassroots projects in agriculture, trade, mining and other sectors.
The SGF called on the private sector to play a leading role in investment, innovation and job creation, while government would provide a stable policy environment, transparent regulation and strong institutions.
He also urged Nigerians to uphold democratic values, noting that the media had a constitutional responsibility to inform the public and hold leaders accountable.
Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria was moving from the reform and stabilisation phase towards growth, production and shared prosperity.
Idris said economic indicators were showing improvements, including strengthening GDP growth, an improved external position, expanded domestic refining capacity and increased investment and productive activity.
He said the next phase was to translate the gains into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians through more jobs, higher incomes, improved access to education and credit, lower costs and wider economic opportunities.
The minister said the Renewed Hope Agenda was targeting these objectives through investments in infrastructure, agriculture, education, consumer credit, digital skills, energy and enterprise.
He said the administration’s guiding principle was that Nigeria should increasingly produce what it consumes, process what it extracts and create opportunities from its human and natural resources.
Idris also stressed the importance of security, justice and national cohesion to sustaining economic progress.
He urged the media to uphold accuracy, fairness, balance and verification, while citizens should have access to reliable information to enable them to make informed democratic choices.
He said the 66th anniversary should serve as an opportunity to renew the country’s commitment to building a more prosperous, secure and united Nigeria.