Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government says the 2026 budget is designed to consolidate ongoing economic reforms and strengthen Nigeria’s recovery trajectory, with early gains already reflecting improved business confidence and macroeconomic stability.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this in an op-ed published recently, describing the 2026 appropriation as a “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity.”
“Our Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity is critical,” Idris said. “It is a commitment to double down on what is working, to solidify gains, and to ensure that the shared prosperity we speak of becomes a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster.”
From a business and investment perspective, the minister said the past 31 months of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration were marked by “difficult but necessary choices” aimed at dismantling structural bottlenecks that had constrained growth for years.
According to him, early indicators now suggest that those reforms are beginning to pay off.
“Business activity is expanding, investor confidence is improving, inflation is easing, and Nigeria’s external reserves are strengthening,” Idris noted. “These are not just numbers. They are the foundation for lasting improvement in the daily lives of Nigerians.”
He pointed to targeted government interventions with direct economic impact, including the student loan scheme under NELFUND, the Presidential CNG Initiative to reduce transport and logistics costs, and youth-focused programmes such as LEEP, Jubilee Fellows Programme, and the 3MTT initiative, all aimed at boosting productivity and human capital.
On the supply side of the economy, Idris highlighted efforts to tackle food inflation and agribusiness constraints through the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture and expanded mechanisation, while major infrastructure projects, including the Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Expressway, AKK Gas Pipeline, and new rail corridors, are expected to lower operating costs for businesses and improve national connectivity.
The minister also stressed that security improvements are critical to sustaining economic gains, citing enhanced recruitment, equipment upgrades and international cooperation.
He referenced the recent rescue of abducted students in Kebbi and Niger States as evidence of renewed momentum.
Acknowledging widespread economic pressure on households and businesses, Idris said the government is committed to accelerating reform benefits.
“We understand the fatigue,” he said, urging Nigerians and the private sector to see economic recovery as a shared responsibility.
He praised President Tinubu’s leadership, noting that recent engagements with the United States strengthened bilateral ties and security cooperation, factors he said are vital for investor confidence.
“We have laid a new foundation,” Idris said. “Now, we must build the house together.”
