President Bola Tinubu on Thursday acknowledged the security challenges confronting Nigeria, assuring that his administration is working diligently to ensure the country is removed from the list of nations designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” by United States President, Donald Trump.
Trump had previously classified Nigeria as a country of particular concern, citing alleged persecution of Christians.
Responding personally to the allegations, Tinubu said, “Do we have problems? Yes. Are we challenged by terrorism? Yes. But we will defeat terrorism. We will overcome the CPC designation. Nigeria is one happy family, and we shall spare no effort until we eliminate all criminals from our society. We want our friends to help us as we step up our fight against terrorism, and we will eliminate it.”
The president explained that Nigeria had already begun diplomatic engagements to address security-related concerns.
Speaking while presiding over Thursday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, Tinubu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to collaboration with international partners, noting that “the most important thing is the fact that despite the political headwinds and the fear of our people, we will continue to engage with partners.”
Tinubu described Nigeria’s economy as resilient and on a path of renewed investor confidence. This came after a brief presentation by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun.
“The success of the $2.3 billion Eurobond that was oversubscribed by 400% is the most assuring,” Tinubu said. “So, the task ahead is immense; we are engaging the world diplomatically, and we assure all of you that we will defeat terrorism in this country. The task ahead is immense, but it is our resolve to move forward with unity and purpose, guided by the Renewed Hope Agenda to build a prosperous, inclusive and resilient Nigeria.”
According to him, Nigeria is maintaining a steady growth trajectory with growing prospects for stability and prosperity as ongoing reforms continue to produce positive results and attract both national and international support.
On the state of national security, Tinubu urged citizens not to lose hope, pledging that the government will “defeat every form of terrorism and secure every part of the country.” He also directed ministers and officials to maintain a consistent communication approach and avoid mixed messaging, assuring that his administration would sustain and consolidate economic progress.
In his presentation, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, reported that Nigeria’s macroeconomic indicators were showing strong improvements, recording some of the best outcomes in a decade.
Edun stated: “The reforms that have been taken under your Renewed Hope Agenda, so bold and sometimes unpopular, are rooted in a clear objective to build a competitive economy that attracts, creates jobs and lifts millions out of poverty.
“In Q2 2025, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 4.23%, the highest in a decade, outside the COVID rebound. Thirteen sectors recorded growth above 7% up from nine sectors in the previous quarter. The industrial sector nearly doubled its growth from 3.72% to 7.45%, reflecting rising productivity and investor confidence. Inflation eased to 18.02% in September 2025. As we know, foreign exchange reserves topped $43 billion, and our trade surplus reached N7.4 trillion.”
He added that household spending patterns indicate a shift toward better living conditions: “Our citizens now spend maybe about half of the income on basic needs, food, shelter and clothing, as compared with almost 90% previously. This signals a country moving from subsistence towards productivity and indeed affluence.”
Edun said the success of the recent Eurobond issuance was a strong endorsement of the administration’s reform agenda and sound economic management. “The success of this Eurobond is a clear indication of renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s reform agenda and prudent economic management,” he said.
He revealed that the next phase of reforms would focus on removing investment barriers, reviewing tariffs and import restrictions to boost industrial expansion, and strengthening fiscal sustainability through comprehensive balance sheet reviews.
“We are improving fiscal reporting, enhancing budget realism, and tightening expenditure frameworks to ensure that the gains of our reforms are felt by all Nigerians,” he explained.
Edun reaffirmed the government’s target of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030, maintaining that it was possible through sustained 7% annual growth and a strong commitment to eradicating poverty.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List as a significant step in strengthening financial credibility. “At the recent World Bank/IMF annual meetings, global leaders commended our reforms, our progress and the revised IMF growth forecast of up to nearly 4% and improved credit ratings,” he said.
Edun emphasized the need to mobilize domestic resources for infrastructure and sustainable job-rich growth. “Yesterday’s hugely successful $2.35 billion Eurobond issuance, in which the order book peaked at over $13 billion, is a testament to continued investor confidence in our country, our reform agenda and Mr. President’s leadership,” he stated.
He urged ministers overseeing infrastructure, mining, education, health, agriculture, digital innovation, and other key sectors to collaborate with sub-national governments in developing projects that meet investor expectations. “Every naira must be optimised to sustain momentum amid global liquidity constraints,” he said. “Where there is less funding from multilateral institutions, we must rely on our own resources. The next phase of reforms will remove barriers holding back investors. We will review tariffs and import restrictions to stimulate productivity and investment.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, admitted that the security concerns raised by former U.S. President Donald Trump were genuine but said the Nigerian government was addressing them to ensure the safety of all citizens regardless of faith or ethnicity.
He confirmed that the CPC designation came up during Thursday’s FEC meeting, adding that while the issue carried political undertones, Nigeria remained a safe nation for all.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Idris said the Tinubu administration remained resolute in safeguarding every Nigerian’s right to freedom of worship as enshrined in the Constitution.
“The killing of even one Nigerian is of concern to the government of Nigeria,” Idris said. “Our constitution guarantees every citizen the right to worship without lethal hindrance, and we are fully committed to that.”
He dismissed insinuations of instability within the government, emphasizing that “President Bola Tinubu and members of the Federal Executive Council remain calm, focused and united.”
“Yes, there are security issues; yes, people are being killed in some areas. But government is responding, and doing so with the utmost sense of responsibility,” he said. “There is no panic mode here. The president is calm; the Council is calm. Government is stable.”
Idris stated that Nigeria is working closely with neighboring countries and global partners, including the United States, to tackle terrorism, secure borders, and strengthen intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
“Issues of terrorism and violent extremism are not tackled by one country alone. We continue to engage regional partners and national partners, including the United States,” he said. “Channels have been opened, and we prefer the situation is handled diplomatically rather than escalated through rhetoric.”
He further noted that the government is reinforcing directives to security agencies to maintain law and order nationwide. “We will continue to impress on our security agencies to maintain law and order wherever they are,” he added. “Whatever concerns there are, the government of Nigeria will take care of them.”
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to preserving its tradition of religious tolerance, saying the government welcomes international cooperation while ensuring responses remain consistent with the nation’s sovereignty, dignity, and national interest.
