Tinubu links Democracy Day to economic freedom, unveils development plans and honours Yar’Adua

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that the next major task for Nigeria, after securing political freedom, is to achieve economic freedom that positively impacts the lives of citizens.

Speaking during his 2026 Democracy Day address, Tinubu said democracy should deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians, stressing that its gains must be reflected in the welfare of the people.
According to him, the June 12, 1993 struggle demonstrated the possibility of a united Nigerian nation, while the heroes of that era secured political liberty. He noted that the responsibility of the current generation is to ensure economic liberation and prosperity.
Tinubu defended the economic reforms introduced by his administration, describing them as difficult but necessary measures. He recalled that when his government assumed office in 2023, the nation’s public finances were under significant pressure. He stated that federation revenues have since improved, fiscal leakages have been curtailed, and investor confidence has grown across sectors including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining and the creative industry.
As part of efforts to deliver what he called the dividends of democracy, the President highlighted measures aimed at improving electricity supply. These include the signing of the Electricity Act, which grants states greater authority in the power sector, approval of a N4 trillion bond to clear outstanding electricity debts, and the expansion of off-grid power projects to universities, hospitals and markets through the Rural Electrification Agency.
On economic growth and infrastructure development, Tinubu announced plans to deploy 10,000 tractors over the next five years through the National Agricultural Development Fund. He also revealed that more than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises have been certified for export, while non-oil exports recorded a 21 percent increase in the past year.
In recognition of the June 12 democratic legacy, the President announced the renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
He also conferred national honours on activists, journalists and military personnel who endured persecution, imprisonment and exile in the struggle for democracy.
Tinubu emphasized that every generation has a defining mission, noting that while Nigeria’s founding fathers secured independence and the June 12 movement fought for democracy, the present generation must focus on delivering prosperity.
He urged Nigerians to reject division, pessimism and cynicism, and instead work together to build a nation where justice is accessible, liberty is protected and opportunities are available to all citizens.