Finance Ministry downplays market fears after US terror strikes in Sokoto
SKAiF NewsNG SNN
The Federal Ministry of Finance has reassured investors and international partners that Nigeria remains stable and focused on economic growth following recent joint security operations with the United States targeting terrorists in Sokoto State.
In a statement titled “Statement on Recent Security Operations and Market Implications,” the ministry said the airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day were part of a targeted and intelligence-led operation aimed solely at terrorist elements threatening national security and economic activity.
“Nigeria remains firmly on a path of peace, stability, and economic progress,” the statement said, stressing that the country “is not at war with itself, nor with any nation.”
The ministry clarified that the operation, conducted in collaboration with the US military, was directed exclusively at terrorism, noting that the distinction was critical for understanding its economic implications.
“What Nigeria is decisively confronting — alongside trusted international partners — is terrorism,” the statement said, adding that the operation was “precise, intelligence-led, and focused exclusively on terrorist elements that threaten innocent lives, national stability, and economic activity.”
Addressing concerns about possible market reactions, the ministry said such security actions should be viewed as confidence-boosting rather than destabilising.
“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,” it said, emphasising that “security and economic stability are inseparable.”
The ministry highlighted what it described as measurable progress under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pointing to recent macroeconomic indicators as evidence of improving economic health.
It noted that 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 stronger performance in the final quarter of the year.
According to the statement, inflation has “decelerated for the seventh consecutive period and is now below 15 per cent,” reflecting better price stability and effective fiscal and monetary coordination.
The ministry also said domestic and international debt markets remain stable, supported by prudent fiscal management, while Nigeria has received credit rating upgrades from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s over the past year.
“These are clear, independent endorsements of the strength of our reforms and the credibility of our economic direction,” it said.
Reaffirming the government’s outlook, the ministry said that as markets reopen on December 29, investors should remain confident that Nigeria is “focused, reform-driven, and committed to stability.”
“Nigeria remains open for business, anchored in peace, and firmly focused on the future,” the statement added.
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