THE Nigerian government has calmed investor concerns following a joint United States–Nigeria security operation in Sokoto on Christmas Day, which saw terrorists’ camps destroyed by airstrikes. The government says the security measure is aimed at protecting investments and driving growth.
A statement signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Mr Wale Edun, described the operation as “recise, intelligence-led, and focused exclusively on terrorist elements that threaten innocent lives, national stability, and economic activity.” Mr Edun insisted that the country remained committed to economic reforms and sustained growth.
He stressed that Nigeria was not at war, either domestically or with any other nation, but was confronting terrorism in partnership with trusted international allies.
“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. Security and economic stability are inseparable; every effort to safeguard Nigerians is, by definition, pro-growth and pro-investment.”
Edun pointed to macroeconomic indicators in 2025 as evidence of progress under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.23 percent in the second quarter and another 3.98 percent in the third, with expectations of stronger performance in the fourth quarter. Inflation, he added, had declined for the seventh consecutive period to below 15 percent, signalling improving price stability.
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Mr Edun said Nigeria’s financial markets remained resilient, while domestic and international debt markets were equally stable and functioning efficiently, supported by prudent fiscal management. He cited recent credit rating upgrades by Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s as independent validation of the administration’s reform agenda.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and structural transformation. “We have maintained fiscal discipline, prioritised efficiency, and protected macroeconomic stability – demonstrating resilience in the face of external shocks,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2026, Edun said the administration aimed to consolidate the gains made in 2025, deepen resilience, and build a sustainable, inclusive, growth-driven economy.
“The actions we take today – on security, reforms, and fiscal discipline – are aligned with that goal,” he added.
With markets now open, the statement reiterated that Nigeria was open for business. “The fundamentals are strengthening, the policy direction is clear, and the resolve of this administration—to protect lives, secure prosperity, and grow the economy—is unwavering,” Edun added.
Trump’s airstrikes
The government of U.S. President, Mr Donald Trump, carried out airstrikes in Sokoto on Christmas night, targeting ISIS militants he accused of killing Christians. He described the operation as ‘decisive’ and warned that more strikes would follow if the violence continued.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social.
He said he had previously warned the militants that there would be consequences if the attacks did not stop, adding that the U.S. military conducted ‘numerous perfect strikes.’
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper,” Trump added, while praising the U.S. military and sending Christmas greetings.
Sequence of events
In early November, Mr Trump had designated Nigeria as a ‘country of concern’ and threatened to cut off aid and enter the nation to root out terrorists if the government failed to take action against the alleged Christian genocide. “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians,” he said.
His post was backed by several American Republicans and officials of his government, including his Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth, who replied: “Yes sir. The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Mr Trump later appointed House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) and Rep. Riley Moore (R-West Virginia) to lead the investigation into the matter.
The U.S. delegation came to Nigeria to see things for themselves. But while they were still in Nigeria, Mr Trump added Africa’s most populous nation to the list of countries on partial entry restrictions to the United States.
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The new Proclamation released by the White House recently added Nigeria and 14 other nations to the list of countries partially restricted from entering the U.S., which also included Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
On the reason for including Nigeria to the list, the Proclamation said, “Radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State operate freely in certain parts of Nigeria, which creates substantial screening and vetting difficulties. According to the Overstay Report, Nigeria had a B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 5.56 percent and an F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 11.90 percent.”
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria subsequently announced a partial suspension of visa issuance beginning January 1, 2026.
On December 22, news broke that the United States had been carrying out intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, according to flight-tracking data and current and former U.S. officials, signalling heightened security engagement between Washington and Abuja, Reuters reported.
Although Reuters said it could not confirm the precise objectives of the flights, the report marked the first confirmation by a major international news agency that U.S. surveillance missions are under way over Nigeria.
Flight-tracking data for December showed the contractor-operated aircraft typically departed from Ghana, flew over Nigeria, and returned to Accra. The operator was Mississippi-based Tenax Aerospace, a company that provides special-mission aircraft and works closely with the U.S. military, according to its website. The company did not respond to requests for comment, Reuters said.
