Federal Government Reels Economic Gains, Security Reset As Freed Pupils Bring Year-End Relief
Relief and reassurance framed Nigeria’s political mood at the close of 2025 as the Federal Government confirmed the release of all abducted pupils of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, a development that set the tone for a confident end-of-year appraisal by the Tinubu administration.
Speaking at the End-of-Year Press Conference in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the freedom of the 230 pupils underscored renewed momentum in Nigeria’s security architecture and reflected the growing effectiveness of coordinated intelligence and military operations.
Beyond security, Idris outlined what he described as a year of “reinforced foundations,” citing improved macroeconomic indicators, declining inflation, strengthened external reserves and renewed investor confidence.
Nigeria’s economy, he noted, grew by 3.98 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, while inflation eased to 14.45 per cent in November, marking eight consecutive months of decline.
The Minister highlighted landmark interventions across infrastructure, power, agriculture and youth empowerment, including over ₦1.5 trillion committed to road construction, expanded access to education loans for nearly 800,000 students, and record investments in digital skills and entrepreneurship.
On the global stage, Nigeria reclaimed strategic influence, securing key international positions, major hosting rights and a $5.1 billion bilateral health cooperation agreement with the United States, described as the largest co-investment under the America First Global Health Strategy.
Looking ahead, Idris said the newly presented ₦58.18 trillion 2026 budget signals a decisive shift towards consolidation, with the largest-ever allocations to capital projects and national security, alongside sweeping tax reforms aimed at strengthening accountability and revenue generation.
As the country prepares for 2026, the minister insisted that while reforms have come with short-term discomfort, they are steadily laying the groundwork for long-term stability, prosperity and national renewal.
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