By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
FIRM ASSURANCE came from President Bola Tinubu on Thursday that Nigeria will defeat terrorism and other threats to national security as the government sustains its reform agenda to deliver steady economic growth, stability, and prosperity.
Speaking at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja after swearing in two new ministers, Dr Bernard Mohammed Doro and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh (SAN), the President declared that the country would overcome all security challenges while deepening engagement with global partners to consolidate progress across sectors.
Dr Doro will head the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, while Dr Udeh will oversee the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.
On national security, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s determination to end terrorism and restore peace in every part of the country.
“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,” the President said.
He called on Nigerians not to give in to despair, assuring that the Armed Forces remain fully committed to securing the nation. “We want our friends to help us as we step up our fight against terrorism, and we will eliminate it,” he said.
The President also urged ministers and government officials to maintain consistency in communication and unity of purpose. “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,” he added.
On the state of the economy and diplomatic relations, President Tinubu stated that Nigeria’s engagement with the international community continues to yield positive results.
“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. The success of the $2.3 billion eurobond that was oversubscribed by 400% is the most assuring,” he said.
He emphasised that government will continue to consolidate the gains of its reforms, assuring Nigerians that growth, stability, and progress remain central to the national agenda.
During the meeting, the President directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, to brief the Council on the nation’s latest economic performance.
Edun reported that Nigeria’s economy had shown one of its strongest performances in a decade, driven by far-reaching reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“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 investment, creates jobs and lifts millions out of poverty,” the minister stated.
According to him, the economy expanded significantly in the second quarter of 2025, recording 4.23% GDP growth—the highest in ten years outside the post-COVID rebound.
He noted that thirteen sectors achieved growth above seven per cent, up from nine sectors in the previous quarter, with the industrial sector nearly doubling its growth rate from 3.72% to 7.45%.
“This performance reflects rising productivity and investor confidence,” Edun said. “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 explained that improved consumer spending patterns further illustrate Nigeria’s progress toward prosperity.
“Our citizens now spend about half of their income on basic needs—food, shelter and clothing—compared with almost 90% previously.
“This signals a country moving from subsistence towards productivity and indeed affluence,” he said.
Edun reaffirmed that the government’s target of building a one trillion-dollar economy by 2030 remains achievable, supported by consistent seven per cent annual growth and the moral imperative of ending poverty.
The Minister also announced that Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List represented a major boost to the country’s financial integrity and credibility in the global marketplace.
“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 four per cent and improved credit ratings,” Edun said.
He noted that the successful issuance of the $2.35 billion Eurobond, with an order book peaking at more than $13 billion, demonstrated continued international confidence in Nigeria’s economic fundamentals and the leadership of President Tinubu.
“Despite the political headwinds which we are all aware of, the market shrugged off those political considerations and focused on the economic fundamentals of Nigeria,” he explained.
Edun stressed the importance of mobilising domestic resources to finance infrastructure and drive job-rich growth. “There is an urgency to mobilise domestic resources and provide investment to finance infrastructure, as well as drive sustainability and job-rich growth,” he said.
He urged ministers responsible for infrastructure, mining, education, health, agriculture, the blue economy, digital innovation, arts, and culture to collaborate closely with sub-national governments to identify and package projects that attract investors.
“Every Naira must be optimised to sustain momentum amid global liquidity constraints. 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,” the minister stated.
President Tinubu commended the Ministry of Finance and the economic management team for sustaining reform momentum and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, inclusive growth, and accountability.
The two newly sworn-in ministers pledged to align their mandates with the Renewed Hope Agenda, prioritising service delivery, innovation, and measurable impact in their respective ministries.
The Presidency reiterated that the administration remains committed to strengthening national security, expanding economic opportunity, and ensuring that the benefits of reform reach all Nigerians.
