Sokoto Operation: FG Reassures Investors, Says Nigeria’s Economy Remain Stable

The Federal Government has reassured investors, financial analysts, and international development partners that Nigeria remains peaceful, stable, and economically resilient despite concerns following a joint security operation in Sokoto carried out on Christmas Day.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, gave the assurance in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, explaining that the operation—conducted in collaboration with the United States—was a targeted, intelligence-led action aimed solely at terrorist elements threatening national security and economic activities.

“What Nigeria is decisively confronting—alongside trusted international partners—is terrorism,” Edun said, stressing that the context of the operation was essential to understanding its broader economic implications.

He described the Sokoto operation as “precise, intelligence-led, and focused exclusively on terrorist elements that threaten innocent lives, national stability, and economic activity,” adding that the action was designed to strengthen security rather than unsettle financial markets or undermine investor confidence.

“Far from destabilising markets or weakening confidence, such actions strengthen the foundations of peace, protect productive communities, and reinforce the conditions required for sustainable economic growth. Security and economic stability are inseparable; every effort to safeguard Nigerians is, by definition, pro-growth and pro-investment,” the minister said.

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Edun noted that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria has recorded measurable progress in security improvements and economic reforms, reflected in key macroeconomic indicators.

According to him, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.98 per cent in Q3 2025, following a strong 4.23 per cent growth in Q2, with expectations of an even stronger performance in Q4 2025. He added that inflation has slowed for the seventh consecutive period and now stands below 15 per cent, attributing the improvement to coordinated fiscal and monetary policies.

The minister said Nigeria’s financial markets remain stable, with both domestic and international debt markets functioning efficiently under prudent fiscal management. He recalled that the country recently secured credit rating upgrades from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s, describing them as independent validation of the government’s reform agenda.

“We have maintained fiscal discipline, prioritised efficiency, and protected macroeconomic stability, demonstrating resilience in the face of external shocks,” Edun said.

Referring to President Tinubu’s recent national address, Edun stated that the administration’s focus for 2026 is to consolidate gains made in 2025, strengthen economic resilience, and sustain momentum toward inclusive and durable growth.

Assuring local and foreign investors ahead of market reopening on Monday, December 29, 2025, Edun said confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction remains justified.

“As markets reopen, investors can be confident that Nigeria remains reform-driven, stable, and focused on growth. The fundamentals are strengthening, the policy direction is clear, and this administration’s resolve to protect lives and secure prosperity is unwavering,” he said.

He concluded by reaffirming the country’s investment outlook: “Nigeria remains open for business, anchored in peace, and firmly focused on the future.”

Sokoto Operation: FG Reassures Investors, Says Nigeria’s Economy Remain Stable

US Airstrikes Disrupt Terrorists in Northwest, Spark Bandit Movement, Security Alerts

Suspected terrorists and bandits in northwestern Nigeria are reportedly relocating following US missile strikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to community leaders and security sources. The strikes, announced by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, targeted locations believed to be used by Islamic State militants in Sokoto and Kwara states.

Although no fatalities were recorded at the two primary strike sites, the attacks caused injuries and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. In Jabo, Sokoto State, a missile struck farmland, while buildings were affected in Offa, Kwara State. Officials in Tangaza Local Government Area reported further strikes on suspected Lakurawa armed group hideouts, with residents noting unusual movements of armed groups.

The Chairman of the Traditional Council in Gwer West, Benue State, Daniel Abomtse, warned of an influx of armed herders and fleeing bandits into local communities, urging the continuation of similar operations across Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Niger, and Plateau states.

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Community leaders in Sokoto reported that bandits abandoned their hideouts and familiar routes, with some moving in small groups toward remote forests or crossing into border communities to evade surveillance. The Sokoto State Government said intelligence assessments are ongoing, with security agencies on high alert to prevent infiltration of safer areas.

Security experts warn that terrorists may attempt to blend with law-abiding citizens or seek support from international terror networks. Kabiru Adamu, CEO of Beacon Consulting, noted that the militants could exploit cyberspace for propaganda, spinning the strikes as an attack on Muslims to garner sympathy, membership, and funding.

Professor Tar Usman, of the Nigerian Defence Academy, explained that the strikes could disrupt terrorist planning and heighten fear within camps, though the intervention will not immediately end insurgent activities. He stressed the importance of vigilance to prevent terrorists from mixing with civilians while adapting new tactics.

Meanwhile, the US has resumed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations over the Sambisa Forest, Borno State, using aircraft such as the Gulfstream V, a long-range jet adapted for surveillance missions.

The US-Nigeria coordinated strikes mark a significant effort to weaken Islamic State networks in Nigeria, with both nations emphasizing continued collaboration to prevent further attacks and curb terrorism in the region.

US Airstrikes Disrupt Terrorists in Northwest, Spark Bandit Movement, Security Alerts

Tinubu Reaches Out to Turkey as Nigeria, US Deepen Military Cooperation Against Insecurity

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed that the Federal Government of Nigeria has reached out to Turkey for military and technical assistance as part of intensified efforts to address the country’s persistent insecurity.

The President made this known on Friday while receiving a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, at his residence in Lagos. The meeting was confirmed in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

President Tinubu urged CAN to partner with his administration in achieving national unity and security objectives, stressing that some of the measures being implemented would take time to yield tangible results.

He assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies remain committed to safeguarding lives and property despite operational challenges.

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According to the President, Nigeria’s vast ungoverned spaces continue to pose serious security concerns, but he expressed confidence that the situation would be overcome through cooperation and sustained efforts.

“The mood of the nation is peaceful, although our ungoverned spaces are so large. The challenge is real, but we will surmount it. We are very religious. We are prayer warriors. We need your focus, vigilance, and cooperation,” Tinubu said.

He further revealed that plans for Community Policing and State Police are progressing and will become a reality once the National Assembly completes the necessary legislative framework.

President Tinubu also highlighted constraints in acquiring military equipment, noting that military hardware is costly and not readily available.

“Our orders for four attack helicopters from the United States of America will take some time to arrive. We have approached Turkey for assistance,” he added.

The disclosure comes amid expanding military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that American forces had conducted airstrikes in North-West Nigeria, killing several terrorists. The Nigerian government later confirmed that the operation was carried out in collaboration with the United States.

Tinubu Reaches Out to Turkey as Nigeria, US Deepen Military Cooperation Against Insecurity