NIGERIA: Tinubu Presents 2025 Budget: Defence, Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure Tops Priorities

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has presented the N47.9 trillion 2025 budget to a joint session of the 10th National Assembly in Abuja, on Wednesday, 17th December, 2025.

The budget titled; “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity, featured major allocations for different sectors like defense, security, education, and healthcare.

It also featured Nigeria’s economic projection and reforms, the government’s achievement in 2024 and its plans for 2025.

The budget focused majorly on Defence and Security, infrastructure, Health, and Education.

For defense and security, the Tinubu-led administration earmarked N4.91 trillion to strengthen national security and enhance peace efforts.

In his speech, he said: “The government will continue to provide our security forces with the modern tools and technology they need to keep us safe. Boosting the morale of our men and women in the armed forces will remain our government’s top priority.

“The officers, men, and women of our Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police Force are the shields and protectors of our nation. Our administration will continue to empower them to defeat insurgency, banditry, and all threats to our sovereignty. Our people should never live in fear—whether on their farmlands, highways, or cities. By restoring peace, we restore productivity, revive businesses, and rebuild our communities.”

For education, the government allocated N3.5 trillion to education, with 826.90 billion naira for infrastructure development in the educational sector.

This provision is aimed to include those for the Universal Basic Education (UBEC) and the nine new higher educational institutions.

Healthcare and Infrastructure also got allocations of N2.48 trillion and N4.06 trillion respectively, which will be channeled into improving healthcare facilities and cover major projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway projects.

The President also emphasised in his presentation that the government will also focus on food security and increase agricultural produce to ensure Nigeria feeds comfortably and conveniently.

“Increasing agricultural production is central to our food security agenda, but insecurity has crippled this vital sector. We are supporting our farmers with funding and inputs to reignite productivity. Food security is non-negotiable. In this regard, we are taking bold steps to ensure that every Nigerian can feed conveniently, and none of our citizens will have to go to bed hungry.”, he said.

The budget also highlighted the economic projection for 2025, as the president noted that the government is targeting a reduction in the inflation rate from 34.6% to 15% and an exchange rate stabilization from ₦1,700 to ₦1,500 per dollar.

With a budget deficit of N13.08 trillion, the government also plans to focus on debt servicing, which is projected to cost N15.81 trillion in 2025.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu concluded his presentation by urging leaders and members of the two chambers of the House of Representatives to work to support the administration in surmounting the challenges of the country.

“Our nation faces existential threats from corruption and insecurity and suffers from many past poor choices. These challenges are surmountable when we work collaboratively to overcome them. We must rewrite the narrative of this nation together, with every leader, institution, and citizen playing their part.

The time for lamentation is over. This is a time to act. A time to support and promote greater investment in the private sector. A time for our civil servants to faithfully execute our policies and programs. It is a time for every Nigerian to look hopefully towards a brighter future because a new day has dawned on us as a nation.” he charged.