The Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris has attributed
the journey of 2025 to one of reinforcing and strengthening the country’s foundations, revealing that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria is big, his strategy unambiguous, and his resolve unshakeable.
Idris who disclosed this at the End of Year Press Briefing in Abuja on Monday, revealed that Tinubu’s administration is consolidating stability, protecting the homeland, empowering the youth, and building a nation where every citizen has the agency to thrive.
According to him, “I stand before you today, on the directive of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to review the outgoing year, account for the trust you placed in this administration, and to present an unequivocal blueprint for the year ahead.”
While presenting the highlights of the 2025 scorecard, he said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.98% in third quarter of 2025, demonstrating resilient and sustained expansion in the non-oil sector.
Idris said, “Significantly, headline inflation has now declined for eight consecutive months, to stand at 14.45% in November 2025. Food inflation is also on a steady downward trend.
“Our external reserves have strengthened to approximately $44.56 billion, providing robust buffer that stabilises our currency, assures international investors. Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of N6.69 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, a 27.29 percent growth year-on-year”.
He added, “The most recent Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data, an important measure of business sentiment indicates that Nigeria has seen 12 consecutive months of expansion in economic activities.
“On March 4, 2025, Nigeria recorded a maximum daily energy of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh) nationwide—the highest ever in our history.
“Also in the power sector, 2025 saw the kick-off of the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), as well as the issuance of the first Bond under Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme, the single largest coordinated financial intervention in the history of our power sector.
“A massively oversubscribed Eurobond issuance, attracting orders amounting to 400% of the target of $2.3 billion USD; demonstrating strong investor confidence in our macroeconomic reforms”.
Idris further disclosed that Nigeria exited the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, reflecting sustained reforms in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crimes, and marking the start of a new reputational, operational chapter for our financial sector.
He said, “President Tinubu in 2025 approved the recapitalization of Bank of Agriculture with N1.5 trillion, the biggest single boost to agriculture financing in our recent history.“We committed to deploying over 1.5 trillion Naira in investments in road infrastructure in 2025 alone, the largest such commitment in our nation’s history; based on our firm belief that an economy cannot grow faster than infrastructure that supports it.
“At the heart of this effort are our Four Legacy Highway Projects, engineered to connect every region and unlock new economic corridors: The 750-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, linking our entire southern coastline.
“The 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, bridging the North-West to the South-West. The 477-kilometer Trans- Saharan Highway, traversing from Calabar to the FCT. The 422-kilometer Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe highway, integrating the North-Central and North-East.“These are not conventional roads. They are being built with reinforced concrete pavement designed to last 50 to 100yrs, drastically cutting future maintenance costs and promoting local content. Empowering the next generation”, the Minister stated.
Speaking on Nigerian youths, he said 2025 has been a bumper year in targeted catalytic policy making, implementation, revealing that the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) now supported over 788,000 Nigerian students with interest -free loans and stipends amounting to over 150 billion Naira.
Idris added that “The Federal Government of Nigeria’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme officially kicked off during the year, with an anchor investment in a new multi-million-dollar venture fund that will support the creative and digital entrepreneurship aspirations of young Nigerians.According to him, “In 2025 the Federal Govt launched the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), offering equity -free financing of up to ₦50 million for undergraduate innovators in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) disciplines, across accredited tertiary institutions.
“With this new intervention, we’re nurturing the seeds of entrepreneurship in our campuses and turning brightest minds into job creators, not just job seekers. The 3 million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme made significant progress during the year, as it builds Africa’s largest digital army”.
In the area of security, Idris said 2025 saw the presidential declaration of a nationwide security emergency, that will in months ahead translate into massive recruitment into the Armed Forces and Police Force, and deployment of trained and equipped Forest Guards to secure the forests and other vulnerable locations.He added that Tinubu’s administration have also established, in 2025, a new national counterterrorism doctrine—anchored on four critical pillars: unified command, intelligence, community stability, and counterinsurgency.
“Let me be clear about what this means: That henceforth, any armed group that kidnaps children, attacks farmers, or terrorizes the communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist organization”, the Minister disclosed.
On the international stage, in 2025, Idris said Tinubu’s administration navigated complex international diplomacy with maturity and principle, citing the recent diplomatic spat with the United States that was resolved via firm, respectful engagement, culminating in a strengthened partnership.He said, “Just last week, the Federal Government of Nigeria signed a five-year, $5.1B health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the the United States – in which will provide $2.1B in grant funding, while Nigeria commits $3 billion.
Adding that, “This has been described as the largest co-investment by any country to date under the America First Global Health Strategy. It’ll strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system, save lives, and attract investment”.
The Minister boldly said Nigeria is no longer on the sidelines, “we are a confident and strategic partner on the global stage, defending our national interests and attracting beneficial partnerships.
Revealing that Just last month Nigeria regained its Category C seat on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium; a celebrated comeback following 14 years of absence.Additionally, he said this year Nigeria secured hosting rights for the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) 2026, and the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027, one of the largest trade gatherings on the African continent.
“In 2026, our newly appointed Ambassadors will take up their posts in countries of assignment, strengthening our bilateral relations and advancing our visibility and strategic engagements in the global community”, he further disclosed.
The Minister concluded on the 2026 58.18 trillion Naira budget presented by the President to the National Assembly which he said focus on the largest ever capital expenditure allocation of ₦26.08 trillion for tangible infrastructure, roads, rail, power, and ports.
According to him, “The single biggest allocation of N5.41 trillion is to Defence and Security, a direct investment in protecting lives, property, and prosperity, through modern equipment for the armed forces, a new national intelligence architecture, and a secure digital border surveillance system.“This budget is funded by prudent assumptions: oil at $64.85/barrel, production at 1.84 million barrels/day, and an exchange rate of N1,400/$. We’ll fund the deficit through an aggressive, digitized revenue mobilization drive, ensuring that every liable entity pays its fair share, without imposing unfair burdens on anyone”.
“President Tinubu has also vowed that 2026 will see a full unification of existing budget cycles, and we will henceforth operate on a single unified budget that is backed by a single revenue cycle.
“That budget sets the stage for a year in which the landmark new Tax Reform Laws will go into operation, ushering in an era of fiscal growth and a deepening of the social contract between the government and the people.
The Minister who called for the understanding of Nigerians in this regard, added that the tax promises a new era of accountability in revenue generation and government expenditure.
