The Federal Ministry of Finance has sought to reassure investors and international partners following recent security operations in Sokoto, insisting that Nigeria remains stable, economically resilient, and firmly open for business.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said the joint Nigeria-United States operation carried out in Sokoto on Christmas Day was a targeted counterterrorism effort and should not be misconstrued as a sign of internal conflict or geopolitical tension.
“Nigeria is not at war with itself, nor with any nation,” Edun said. “What Nigeria is decisively confronting alongside trusted international partners is terrorism. This distinction is important, and it is fundamental to understanding the positive economic implications of recent actions.”
The minister explained that the operation was “precise, intelligence-led, and focused exclusively on terrorist elements that threaten innocent lives, national stability, and economic activity,” stressing that such actions ultimately strengthen investor confidence rather than undermine it.
“Far from destabilising markets or weakening confidence, such actions strengthen the foundations of peace, protect productive communities, and reinforce the conditions required for sustainable growth,” he said. “Security and economic stability are inseparable; every effort to safeguard Nigerians is, by definition, pro-growth and pro-investment.”
Edun highlighted what he described as tangible gains under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting improvements in both security and economic indicators. According to him, Nigeria recorded GDP growth of 3.98 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, following a stronger 4.23 per cent growth in Q2, with expectations of an even better performance in the final quarter of the year.
He also disclosed that inflation has “decelerated for the seventh consecutive period” and is now below 15 per cent, attributing the trend to improved price stability and coordinated fiscal and monetary policies.
“Our financial markets remain resilient,” the minister said. “Domestic and international debt markets are stable and functioning efficiently, supported by prudent fiscal management.”
Edun further noted that Nigeria has received credit rating upgrades from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s in the past year, describing them as “clear, independent endorsements of the strength of our reforms and the credibility of our economic direction.”
Looking ahead, he said the administration’s priority for 2026 is to consolidate recent gains and deepen economic resilience.
“As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu noted in his address last week, our overarching objective for 2026 is to consolidate the gains of 2025, strengthen Nigeria’s economic resilience, and continue building a sustainable, inclusive, and growth-oriented economy,” Edun stated.
As markets reopened on Monday, December 29, 2025, the finance minister urged investors to remain confident in Nigeria’s trajectory.
“The fundamentals are strengthening, the policy direction is clear, and the resolve of this administration—to protect lives, secure prosperity, and grow the economy—is unwavering,” he said, adding that “Nigeria remains open for business, anchored in peace, and firmly focused on the future.”
