‘We Saved Nigeria From Collapse’—SGF Akume Highlights 2026 Economic Gains, Infrastructure Milestones
ABUJA — The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, has declared that the bold economic decisions taken by the current administration have saved Nigeria from imminent collapse, pointing to a 4.2% real GDP growth in the first half of 2026 as proof of recovery.
Akume made the assertion on Wednesday during the 66th Independence Anniversary Lecture held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.
Speaking under the theme “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress,” the SGF stated that difficult reforms—including the removal of the petrol subsidy, the unification of the foreign-exchange market, and critical fiscal restructuring—were necessary interventions to rebuild national stability.
He highlighted key economic indicators to include GDP expansion, citing recent data from the World Bank.
Akume revealed that Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 4.2% in the first half of 2026, rising from 3.9% recorded during the same period in the previous year.
The SGF emphasized that the administration’s immediate priority is transforming the macroeconomic growth into tangible job creation and higher disposable incomes for everyday Nigerians.
He also highlighted aggressive investments over the past three and a half years aimed at expanding national connectivity, boosting trade, and revitalizing real estate.
He says the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway remains a flagship project designed to link Lagos through the coastal states directly to Calabar, dramatically improving regional trade routes, with significant advancements on the Abuja–Kano highway and the East–West Road to safely and efficiently connect urban markets with rural farming communities.
Reflecting on the nation’s journey, Akume praised the resilience of the Nigerian people, noting that despite surviving a civil war, decades of military rule, and severe institutional trials, citizens continue to demonstrate an unwavering faith in a strong, united, and indivisible nation.
