ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday charged Nigerians to embrace the task of building a prosperous nation, declaring that while the heroes of the June 12 struggle secured democracy, the responsibility of the present generation is to deliver economic freedom and shared prosperity.
Addressing the nation during the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, Tinubu described prosperity as the next phase of Nigeria’s democratic journey, insisting that democracy must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
“The generation of our founding fathers secured independence; the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity,” the President declared.
He noted that Nigeria has sustained 27 uninterrupted years of democratic governance since 1999, the longest period of civilian rule in the nation’s history, and urged citizens to safeguard and strengthen the democratic gains achieved through decades of sacrifice.
Paying tribute to the heroes of the pro-democracy movement, Tinubu honoured the memories of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and numerous other activists whose struggles helped restore democratic governance in the country.
According to him, the true measure of democracy lies not only in free elections but in the ability of government to create jobs, improve infrastructure, expand opportunities for young people, support businesses, empower farmers and enhance social welfare.
Highlighting the impact of his administration’s economic reforms, the President said fiscal transparency had improved significantly, investor confidence was rebounding, federation revenues had increased, and investments were flowing into critical sectors such as agriculture, energy, mining, manufacturing, transportation and technology.
He disclosed that Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity had expanded, non-oil exports were growing steadily, while more than 1,000 small and medium-scale enterprises had been certified for export under government-backed initiatives.
He also announced plans to deploy 10,000 tractors nationwide over the next five years to boost agricultural productivity and food security.
On power sector reforms, Tinubu said the Electricity Act had empowered states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity independently, while efforts were ongoing to bridge the country’s metering gap and resolve legacy liabilities through a proposed N4 trillion bond.
Addressing security challenges, particularly the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno States, the President reaffirmed his administration’s determination to defeat terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
He revealed that the Federal Government had declared a security emergency, recruited more than 50,000 police officers and earmarked a record N5.41 trillion for defence and security in the 2026 budget.
Tinubu further stated that terror-related deaths had declined by 81 per cent since 2015, while over 13,000 terrorists were neutralised in the past year.
He added that more than 124,000 insurgents and their dependants had surrendered under Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.
“To bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror: surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State,” the President warned, stressing that there would be no tolerance for those who profit from violence and insecurity.
Calling for national unity, Tinubu urged Nigerians to reject ethnic and regional divisions, insisting that criminality has no ethnic colouration and that collective action remains vital to overcoming insecurity and accelerating development.
He also challenged young Nigerians to play active roles in nation-building, urging them to “build here, code here, work here and vote here,” while emphasizing that enduring national greatness is achieved by citizens who remain committed to solving their country’s challenges.
In a major announcement, the President approved the revitalisation and renaming of the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology, in honour of the late statesman and foremost democracy advocate.
Tinubu also announced the conferment of national honours on scores of pro-democracy activists, journalists, labour leaders, intellectuals and military officers who contributed to the struggle against military rule, noting that the full list of awardees would be released in the coming days.
As preparations intensify for the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, the President called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political stakeholders to ensure peaceful, transparent and credible polls.
He concluded with a rallying call for renewed patriotism and commitment to democratic ideals, saying: “The road ahead is steep. But June 12 reminds us that Nigerians do not break. We bend, we bleed, but we do not break.”
The President maintained that the nation’s future depends on unity, resilience and a collective determination to transform democratic gains into enduring prosperity for all citizens.
