ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has described Nigeria as a “compelling market destination” that global investors can no longer ignore. His remarks follow the record-breaking performance of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), which saw its market capitalization soar to N101.8 trillion this week—a massive jump from the N99.9 trillion recorded at the start of the year.
Global Performance: Outpacing the Giants
The President highlighted that while international markets faced volatility in 2025, the Nigerian bourse remained on a steady ascent.
- NGX All-Share Index (ASI): Closed 2025 with a 51.19% return, significantly higher than the 37.65% recorded in 2024.
- The Comparison: Tinubu noted that this performance significantly outpaced major global indices, including the S&P 500 (which returned roughly 17.3% in 2025) and the FTSE 100 (21%).
- New Reality: “Nigeria is no longer a frontier market to be ignored,” the President stated via spokesperson Bayo Onanuga. “It is now a destination where value is being discovered.”
Inflation and the “2026 Epoch”
The President linked the stock market’s success to his administration’s broader macroeconomic reforms. He revealed that inflation is finally on a downward trend, dropping from a high of 34.8% in December 2024 to 14.45% by November 2025.
“Indeed, inflation is likely to fall below 10 per cent before the end of this year (2026), leading to improved living standards and accelerated GDP growth,” Tinubu stated.
The Drivers of Growth
Experts attribute the N100 trillion milestone to several key factors:
- “January Effect”: Renewed buying interest in heavyweight stocks like Cadbury, Fidson, and Zenith Bank.
- Corporate Resilience: Strong earnings from industrial and banking sectors.
- Fiscal Reforms: The full implementation of new tax and fiscal laws which took effect on January 1, 2026.
The President concluded by urging both domestic and foreign investors to deepen their local holdings, promising that 2026 would be an “epochal year” for prosperity.
