The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that all security operations against terrorists and criminal groups will be conducted in line with globally accepted Rules of Engagement.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance on Monday at the 2025 End-of-Year Press Briefing in Abuja, amid concerns over the Federal Government’s new counterterrorism doctrine that classifies all armed groups operating outside state authority as terrorists.
Idris said Nigeria is fully prepared to defend its citizens while maintaining the highest international standards of conduct, noting that the Armed Forces are professionally trained and work closely with international partners. He commended security agencies for strict adherence to engagement protocols.
Reviewing the administration’s performance in 2025, the Minister said the government prioritised macroeconomic stability and confidence-building, with GDP growth reaching 3.98 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, driven largely by the non-oil sector.
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He disclosed that headline inflation declined for eight consecutive months to 14.45 per cent in November 2025, while food inflation also showed a downward trend. Nigeria’s external reserves, he said, rose to $44.56 billion, strengthening currency stability and investor confidence.
According to Idris, Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of ₦6.69 trillion in Q3 2025, representing a 27.29 per cent year-on-year increase, while the country’s Eurobond issuance attracted subscriptions worth 400 per cent of the $2.3 billion offer.
On infrastructure, the Minister revealed that the government invested over ₦1.5 trillion in road construction in 2025, anchored on four legacy projects: the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Trans-Saharan Highway, and Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Expressway.
He also highlighted milestones in the power sector, including a record 128,370.75 megawatt-hours of daily energy generation on March 4, 2025, the rollout of the Presidential Metering Initiative, and the issuance of the first bond under the Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme.
In agriculture, Idris said President Bola Tinubu approved the ₦1.5 trillion recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture, describing it as the largest single intervention in agricultural financing in recent history.
The Minister further confirmed the successful rescue of all 230 abducted pupils of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, assuring Nigerians of the government’s commitment to citizen safety.
He said while reforms have come with temporary hardships, they are delivering long-term gains, adding that 2026 will focus on consolidating security, competitiveness, and national prosperity.
