By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded corporate Nigeria, investors and other stakeholders in the capital market following the attainment of the historic N100 trillion market capitalisation milestone on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), urging Nigerians to deepen investments in the local economy as the country’s economic reforms gain traction.
In a statement on Thursday, the President described the achievement as a strong signal of renewed confidence in Nigeria’s economy and an inspiration to participants in the money and capital markets, assuring that 2026 would deliver even stronger returns as reform outcomes continue to crystallise.
The statement was issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
According to the President, the crossing of the N100 trillion mark by the NGX represents the emergence of a new economic reality and a rejuvenation of investor confidence.
He noted that while many global markets grappled with stagnation in 2025, the NGX recorded exceptional growth, with the All-Share Index closing the year with a 51.19 percent return, surpassing the 37.65 percent recorded in 2024 and ranking among the best performances globally.
President Tinubu said Nigeria’s stock market returns had outpaced those of major indices such as the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, as well as several emerging markets, stressing that the country could no longer be regarded as a frontier market to be overlooked but as a compelling destination where value is increasingly being unlocked.
He explained that the strong performance of the stock market reflected broader economic health and investor confidence, pointing to impressive results across sectors, including industrial firms that have localised supply chains and a resilient banking sector driven by technological innovation.
The President also highlighted a robust pipeline of new listings, noting that indigenous energy firms, technology companies, telecommunications operators and infrastructure-focused entities were preparing to access the capital market to fund expansion, a development he said would further boost market capitalisation and broaden democratic ownership of the economy.
Beyond equities performance, Tinubu said key macroeconomic indicators were improving, with inflation easing after the initial headwinds of reforms.
He attributed the trend to tighter monetary policy, the removal of distortionary financing practices and increased investment in agriculture.
Inflation, which peaked at 34.8 percent in December 2024, declined to 14.45 percent by November 2025, with projections indicating a fall to about 12 percent in 2026 and possibly below 10 percent before the end of the year.
He further noted improvements in Nigeria’s external position, revealing that the country recorded a current account surplus of $16 billion in 2024, with projections from the Central Bank of Nigeria indicating an increase to $18.81 billion in 2026.
According to him, Nigeria is exporting more and importing less of what it can produce locally, as non-oil exports surged by 48 percent to N9.2 trillion by the third quarter of 2025, while exports to Africa jumped by 97 percent.
The President added that foreign reserves had crossed the $45 billion mark and were projected to exceed $50 billion in the first quarter of 2026, strengthening the capacity of the Central Bank to maintain exchange rate stability.
He also cited ongoing investments in rail, road and port infrastructure, improvements in healthcare delivery, reduced medical tourism costs, enhanced access to education through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, and increased research funding for universities.
Describing nation-building as a continuous process requiring sacrifice and collective focus, Tinubu said the N100 trillion market capitalisation milestone was a clear message to the world that Nigeria’s economy is resilient and productive.
He pledged to continue pursuing policies aimed at building a transparent, inclusive and high-growth economy, anchored on tax and fiscal reforms that took full effect from January 1.
