The Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu on Friday, presented a ₦58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, highlighting tougher security measures, stricter fiscal discipline, and deeper economic reforms.
Tagged “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” the proposal seeks to consolidate recent macroeconomic gains, restore investor confidence, and translate economic recovery into jobs and improved living standards for Nigerians.
Addressing the National Assembly, President Bola Tinubu described the presentation as “defining” in Nigeria’s reform journey.
He acknowledged the hardship caused by reforms over the past two and a half years and assured citizens that their sacrifices were not in vain.
“I appear before this Joint Session of the National Assembly, in fulfilment of my constitutional duty, to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill,” the President said.
President Tinubu emphasised that his administration is prioritising security with clear accountability, stressing that spending in this area must deliver tangible results.
He highlighted plans for modernising the Armed Forces, intelligence-driven policing, joint operations, border security, technology-enabled surveillance, and community-based peacebuilding.
“We will invest in security with clear accountability for outcomes because security spending must deliver security results. To secure our country, our priority will remain on increasing the fighting capability of our armed forces and other security agencies by boosting personnel and procuring cutting-edge platforms and other hardware. We are also pursuing a new era of criminal justice system to stamp out terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom and other violent crimes,” he said.
The President added: “Our administration is resetting the national security architecture and establishing a new national counterterrorism doctrine, a holistic redesign anchored on unified command, intelligence, community stability, and counter-insurgency. This new doctrine will fundamentally change how we confront terrorism and other violent crimes that have become existential threats to our corporate survival and have heightened anxiety among our people.”
Also Read: President Tinubu Presents ₦58.18 Trillion Appropriation Bill to NASS
“Under the new framework, any armed group or individual operating outside state authority will be classified as terrorists
“These include bandits, militias, armed gangs, criminal networks with weapons, armed robbers, violent cult groups, forest-based armed collectives, and foreign-linked mercenaries. Groups or individuals conducting violence for political, ethnic, financial, or sectarian objectives are also classified as terrorists. Members of any group extorting communities, kidnapping civilians, occupying or seeking to occupy territory within Nigeria will be classified as terrorists.
The denominator is that if you wield lethal weapons and act outside the state’s authority, you are a terrorist. Any individual or entity that enables the listed groups as financiers, money handlers, harbourers, informants, ransom facilitators, and negotiators will also be classified as terrorists. Political protectors and intermediaries, transporters, arms suppliers, and safe-house operators,” President Tinubu explained.
The joint session attracted several state governors, including those of Imo, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, Niger, Lagos, and Kwara states, demonstrating the national significance of the fiscal exercise.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, ministers, principal officers of the National Assembly, and top political figures, including APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, were also in attendance.
The 2026 Appropriation Bill details the Federal Government’s spending priorities, revenue projections, and policy directions for the coming fiscal year, emphasising economic stability, growth, and continued reforms. The session was presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.