President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday declared that Nigeria had moved beyond the difficult phase of his economic reforms into an “age of prosperity”, but offered little beyond a tribute to security personnel on one of the country’s most pressing challenges — insecurity.
In his 66th Independence Day address, Tinubu devoted substantial attention to economic recovery, food production, infrastructure, jobs and the cost of living, while his treatment of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes was largely limited to an expression of gratitude to members of the Armed Forces and security services.
“We are grateful for the men and women of our Armed Forces and security services who place themselves in harm’s way so that the rest of us may live in peace,” the President said.
The brevity of the security portion was striking because Tinubu himself linked prosperity to the ability of Nigerians to live and work safely, particularly farmers who must be able to cultivate their land and businesses that must operate without disruption.
The President said his vision of prosperity included a Nigeria where farmers could produce safely, factories could operate reliably and young people could find productive employment, while government works to reduce the cost of production and transportation.
Yet the address contained no detailed review of the country’s security situation, no fresh assessment of the kidnapping crisis and no new measurable targets for securing vulnerable communities, highways, farms and schools.
The omission is particularly notable against the administration’s earlier emphasis on the security challenge. In his June 2026 Democracy Day address, Tinubu acknowledged that the abduction of children in Oyo and Borno had dampened the national mood and disclosed measures including the recruitment of more than 50,000 additional police officers and thousands of military personnel.
He also said the 2026 budget provided N5.41 trillion for defence and security, underscoring the administration’s description of security as a major national priority.
But the Independence Day speech provided no detailed update on what those investments had achieved, how many communities had been secured or when Nigerians should expect a measurable reduction in attacks, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
That gap is significant because insecurity directly threatens the economic transformation at the heart of Tinubu’s prosperity message.
Farmers who cannot safely reach their fields cannot increase food production. Traders facing insecurity on major routes cannot move goods efficiently, while businesses operating under persistent security threats may face higher costs and greater risks to investment.
The President’s economic plans therefore depend heavily on the security environment. His proposed expansion of agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and other productive activities requires Nigerians to be able to move, work, trade and invest without fear.
Tinubu nevertheless maintained that the difficult phase of his economic reforms was over, pointing to economic growth of more than four per cent, lower inflation from its peak, stronger foreign reserves, greater foreign-exchange stability and non-oil exports exceeding $6 billion in 2025.
He declared that “the emergency treatment is over” and that the foundation for a new phase of “shared and widespread prosperity” had been repaired, urging Nigerians to look beyond the hardship associated with the reforms towards the benefits he said were emerging.
But the security question remains central to whether that prosperity can become a lived reality. For millions of Nigerians, the ability to farm, travel, send children to school, operate businesses and return safely to their homes remains as important as the economic indicators highlighted in the President’s address.
The challenge for the administration, therefore, is not only to demonstrate that the economy is recovering, but to show that Nigerians can safely participate in the prosperity it is promising.
