The Federal Government has assured Nigerians and the international investment community that its intensified counterterrorism efforts, including recent joint operations with the United States, will not negatively impact the economy but instead strengthen investor confidence and support sustained growth.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, gave the assurance in a statement issued amid concerns following the joint Nigeria–U.S. security operation targeting terrorist elements in Sokoto State last Thursday.
Edun stressed that the operation was a carefully planned, intelligence-driven mission aimed solely at neutralising terrorist threats that endanger lives, national stability, and economic activity.
“What Nigeria is decisively confronting, alongside trusted international partners, is terrorism,” he said. “This distinction is fundamental to understanding the positive economic implications of recent actions.”
According to the minister, far from creating uncertainty in financial or investment circles, such security interventions reinforce peace, protect productive communities, and strengthen the foundations required for sustainable economic growth.
“Security and economic stability are inseparable. Every effort to safeguard Nigerians is, by definition, pro-growth and pro-investment,” Edun added.
He noted that although details of the Sokoto airstrikes remain sketchy, the operation has sent a strong signal to terrorists and bandits while reassuring law-abiding citizens and investors.
Highlighting recent economic performance, Edun said Nigeria recorded a GDP growth of 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 fourth-quarter performance.
He also disclosed that inflation has declined for the seventh consecutive period and is now below 15 per cent, reflecting improving price stability and the impact of coordinated fiscal and monetary policies.
Nigeria’s financial markets, he said, remain resilient, supported by prudent fiscal management and improved investor sentiment. He pointed out that the country has secured credit rating upgrades from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s, describing them as independent validations of the government’s reform agenda.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, Edun said the administration has maintained fiscal discipline, prioritised efficiency, and strengthened macroeconomic stability despite external shocks.
Reiterating the president’s recent national address, Edun said the government’s priority for 2026 is to consolidate gains made in 2025, deepen economic resilience, and sustain momentum toward inclusive and durable growth.
“As markets reopen, investors can be confident that Nigeria remains reform-driven, stable, and open for business,” he said. “The fundamentals are strengthening, policy direction is clear, and the resolve of this administration to protect lives and grow the economy is unwavering.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian stock market closed the week before the Sokoto operation with a net capital gain of N953 billion, pushing its year-to-date return to 49.17 per cent—one of the five highest globally.
Foreign investor participation has also surged, with total transactions on the Nigerian Exchange rising to a record N10.54 trillion within 11 months, driven largely by increased foreign portfolio inflows and strong domestic participation.
Recent data show foreign inflows grew by over 218 per cent year-on-year, while domestic investors continued to demonstrate strong confidence in the economic outlook.
Overall, the Federal Government insists that robust security actions and economic reforms are reinforcing each other, positioning Nigeria for stability, growth, and renewed global investor confidence.
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