President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his
administration’s determination to strengthen global engagement and intensify
efforts to combat terrorism and organized crime across Nigeria.
The President made the remarks following an economic
briefing by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy,
Wale Edun, at Thursday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.
According to Tinubu, his government remains fully
committed to advancing national unity and prosperity under the Renewed Hope
Agenda, despite prevailing political and security challenges.
“The task ahead is immense. But we are resolved to
move forward with unity and purpose—to defeat terrorism and build a prosperous,
inclusive, and resilient Nigeria,” he said.
Trump’s Warning to Nigeria
Tinubu’s comments came on the heels of controversial
remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who last week threatened military
intervention in Nigeria if the government fails to halt what he described as
the “killing of Christians” by Islamist militants.
Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform, warned
that the United States would “stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria” and could
“go in guns-a-blazing to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists.”
He added that any U.S. military action “will be fast,
vicious, and sweet,” declaring Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC)
for religious persecution.
Reports from The New York Times indicated that
the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has begun developing contingency plans for
potential airstrikes in Nigeria, following Trump’s directive to the Pentagon.
According to the report, the Department of Defense is evaluating “heavy,”
“medium,” and “light” operational options should such action be approved.
While Nigerian officials have dismissed the genocide
claims, President Tinubu emphasized his administration’s commitment to
restoring peace and safeguarding all citizens, assuring that security
operations remain a top priority.
Economic Briefing: Reforms Fuel Investor
Confidence
Earlier at the FEC meeting, Finance Minister Wale Edun
reported that the administration’s economic reforms were yielding strong
results, with foreign investors showing renewed confidence in Nigeria’s
economy.
He disclosed that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) grew by 4.23 percent in the second quarter of 2025—the strongest
expansion in a decade outside the post-COVID rebound—driven by robust growth
across 13 key sectors.
“Despite political headwinds, global partners continue
to engage with confidence,” President Tinubu said, noting that Nigeria’s
oversubscribed €2.35 billion Eurobond was a clear sign of global faith
in the nation’s economic fundamentals.
Edun added that the industrial sector nearly
doubled its growth rate from 3.72 to 7.45 percent, reflecting rising
productivity and investor interest.
He also noted that inflation had eased to 18
percent by December 2024, foreign reserves had risen above $43 billion,
and trade surplus reached ?7.4 trillion—indicators of strengthened
macroeconomic stability.
“The reforms, though challenging, are driven by a
clear objective—to build a competitive economy that creates jobs and lifts
millions out of poverty,” Edun stated.
Confidence Boost and Next Phase of Reforms
The minister highlighted Nigeria’s recent removal from
the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as a major confidence
boost for the financial sector, with international institutions like the IMF
and World Bank upgrading their growth forecasts for Nigeria.
He also revealed that the government’s consumer data
now shows Nigerians spend about 50 percent of income on basic needs—down
from nearly 90 percent—signaling gradual improvement in living standards and
disposable income.
Looking ahead, Edun said the next phase of reforms
would focus on attracting investment, improving fiscal reporting, reviewing
tariffs, and removing import bottlenecks to achieve the administration’s $1
trillion economy target by 2030.
Council Mourns Two Former Officials
During the meeting, the Secretary to the Government of
the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, announced the deaths of two
prominent Nigerians—former Minister and Senator Solomon Ewuga, and former Chief
of Staff, General Mohammed Abdullahi.
Ewuga, who served as Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State
and later represented Nasarawa North in the Senate, died in Egypt at the age of
70. Abdullahi, a former military governor of Benue-Plateau State and pioneer
Director-General of the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO), also passed
recently.
The Council observed a minute’s silence in honour of
the deceased leaders.
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