The Federal Government has moved to reassure investors and international partners following a targeted joint security operation by Nigerian and United States forces in Sokoto on Christmas Day, insisting that the country remains peaceful, stable and firmly focused on economic growth.
In a statement addressing recent enquiries about the operation and its potential market implications, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said Nigeria is not engaged in any internal or external war, but is instead confronting terrorism in partnership with trusted allies.
“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.”
According to the minister, the Sokoto operation was precise, intelligence-led and narrowly targeted at terrorist elements, with the aim of protecting innocent lives, national stability and economic activity. He stressed that such actions should not be misconstrued as destabilising, but rather as measures that reinforce peace and strengthen the conditions needed for sustainable growth.
“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,” Edun said. “Security and economic stability are inseparable; every effort to safeguard Nigerians is, by definition, pro-growth and pro-investment.”
Edun said the operation reflects the broader security and reform agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, under which Nigeria has recorded measurable progress in both security and economic performance.
Highlighting recent economic indicators, the finance minister disclosed that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 3.98 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, following a stronger 4.23 per cent growth in the second quarter, with expectations of an even better performance in the final quarter of the year.
“Our macroeconomic performance continues to improve,” he said. “Inflation has decelerated for the seventh consecutive period and is now below 15 per cent, reflecting improving price stability and the effectiveness of coordinated fiscal and monetary actions.”
He added that Nigeria’s financial markets have remained resilient despite global headwinds, noting that both domestic and international debt markets are stable and functioning efficiently due to prudent fiscal management. Over the past year, Nigeria has also secured credit rating upgrades from Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s, developments Edun described as independent validation of the country’s reform trajectory.
“These upgrades are clear endorsements of the strength of our reforms and the credibility of our economic direction,” he said, adding that the government has maintained fiscal discipline, prioritised efficiency and protected macroeconomic stability.
Referencing a recent address by President Tinubu, Edun said the administration’s overarching objective for 2026 is to consolidate the gains of 2025, strengthen economic resilience and continue building a sustainable, inclusive and growth-oriented economy.
“The actions we take today—on security, reforms and fiscal discipline—are aligned with that goal,” the minister said.
“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.
