Author: Gist Correspondent

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has broken his silence on the joint military operations between Nigeria and the United States, confirming coordinated actions against terrorist enclaves and vowing to deepen security cooperation with regional and global partners in 2026.

In his New Year goodwill message to Nigerians, President Tinubu acknowledged recent joint military actions targeting terrorist cells linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in parts of Sokoto State. He described insecurity as a major threat to economic development and assured that military pressure on terror networks would be sustained across the North-West and North-East.

“Our nation continues to confront security threats from criminal and terrorist elements determined to disrupt our way of life,” Tinubu said. “In collaboration with international partners, including the United States, decisive actions were taken against terrorist targets in parts of the North-West on December 24.”

He added that the Armed Forces have continued follow-up operations against terrorist and criminal strongholds.

“Our Armed Forces have since sustained operations against terror networks and criminal strongholds across the North-West and North-East,” the President stated.

Looking ahead, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to stronger international security alliances.

“In 2026, our security and intelligence agencies will deepen cooperation with regional and global partners to eliminate all threats to national security,” he said. “We remain committed to protecting lives, property, and the territorial integrity of our country.”

The President also restated his support for decentralised policing and forest security architecture as part of a comprehensive approach to tackling insecurity.

“I continue to believe that a decentralised policing system with appropriate safeguards, complemented by properly regulated forest guards, all anchored on accountability, is critical to effectively addressing terrorism, banditry, and related security challenges,” he noted.

On the economy, Tinubu highlighted what he described as significant gains from his administration’s reform policies, including steady GDP growth, trade surpluses, exchange rate stability, declining inflation, and rising investor confidence.

“As we enter 2026, our focus is on consolidating these gains and continuing to build a resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and growth-oriented economy,” he said. “Despite the policies to fight inflation, Nigeria recorded a robust GDP growth each quarter in 2025, with annualised growth expected to exceed four per cent.”

He disclosed that foreign reserves stood at $45.4 billion as of December 29, 2025, providing what he called “a substantial buffer against external shocks,” while inflation had declined to below 15 per cent in line with government targets.

President Tinubu also revealed a sharp rise in foreign direct investment.

“In the third quarter of 2025, FDI rose to $720 million from $90 million in the preceding quarter, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction,” he said, adding that global credit rating agencies had affirmed the country’s economic outlook.

The President further assured Nigerians of sustained fiscal discipline, tax harmonisation, and increased investment in infrastructure and human capital, stressing that the reforms were designed to deliver shared prosperity.

Concluding his address, Tinubu urged Nigerians to embrace unity and collective responsibility in nation-building.

“To achieve our objectives in 2026, we must all play our part,” he said. “Nation-building is a shared responsibility. We must stand together in unity and purpose and serve our country with honour and integrity.”

He wished Nigerians a peaceful and prosperous New Year and prayed for continued divine protection over the nation and its security forces.