Tinubu: I am worried about killings in Benue, Borno, Plateau, enough is enough

President Bola Tinubu has directed an immediate overhaul of National Security Strategies, demanding urgent action to end the escalating violence in Borno, Benue, Plateau and Kwara.

The President who met with Security Chiefs at the State House, Abuja, for more than two hours, said the killing of Innocent People in Borno, Benue and Plateau must cease.

“Enough is enough,” President Tinubu declared as he once again condemned the senseless targeting of Innocent Nigerians, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Spokesman, said in a Statement.

Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), told State House Correspondents that the Service Chiefs briefed the President on all the Attacks in the States, the death toll, and the destruction of Property.

The NSA said President Tinubu ordered a new Approach to tackling the Security Challenges.

Ribadu noted that the President also actively monitored and gave Instructions during his Work Visit to Paris and London.

“Mr President gave us the chance to come and brief him again. It lasted very long. We gave him an update on what was going on.

“Even when he was out there, he was constantly in touch, giving Directives and following developments.

“Today, we had the opportunity to come and brief him again, and it lasted hours. It was a very Detailed Briefing, and it was exhaustive,” said Ribadu.

He said the Security Chiefs listened to Tinubu and took Instructions from him.

“The fact is that Mr President is insisting that we work harder to restore Security in the Country.

“We gave him Information on what has been happening and assured him of our commitment. We had carried out his Instructions.

“We went to places with Incidences of Insecurity, such as Plateau, Benue, and Borno States.

“We went to those particular three States. We gave him feedback because he had directed us earlier to go and meet with the Political Authorities there,” he stated.

The NSA said the President highlighted the need to involve the Local Councils and State Governments more in tackling Cases of Insecurity.

“The President directed that we work more with Governors. He was very worried and concerned at the Meeting. He said, ‘Enough is enough!” said Ribadu.

He said the Attackers usually targeted Innocent Citizens by planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and targeting Ungoverned Areas.

Credit NAN: Texts excluding Headline

Be prudent in your spending, IMF warns Nigeria

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), has urged Nigeira to be prudent in spending following implementation of hard Economic Reforms that has made it to save more Revenue.

The Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF, Vitor Gaspar, said this at a Fiscal Monitor News Conference at the ongoing 2025 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C.

He said that there was an urgent need for Fiscal Authorities and Governments to build buffers.

According to him, Governments need to act urgently and decisively as they face harsh Trade Offs and painful choices.

He said it was important for Policy Makers to invest their Political Capital in building Confidence and trust that starts with keeping their own Houses in order.

”This is especially important in a situation that tests the Resilience of Individual Economies, not to mention the entire System.

“Putting House in order involves three Policy Priorities. first, Fiscal Policy should be part of an overall Policies.

“Secondly, Fiscal Policy should in most Countries, aim at reducing Public Debt and rebuilding buffers to create space to respond to spending pressures and other Economic Shocks through a credible Medium Term Framework.

“Thirdly, Fiscal Policy should together with other Structural Policies, aim at improving Potential Growth, thereby easing Policy Trade Offs in these times of high Uncertainty.

“Fiscal Policy must be an anchor for Confidence and Stability that contributes to a Competitive Economy, delivering Growth and Prosperity for all Ministers of Finance must build Trust, tax fairly, spend wisely and take the Long Team,” the Director said.

The Nigerian Division Chief in the Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF, Davide Furceri, said that Nigeria had been able to make some of those painful choices to have space for Fiscal Savings but it needs to spend wisely.

“Nigeira managed to do a very difficult Reform that was important in delivering Fiscal Savings.”

Furceri said that the Country need to focus on boosting Revenue through improved mobilisation efforts, and secondly, scaling up spending in Key Areas like Social Protection and Investment.

“That said, we understand that many Countries, including Nigeria, face pressing spending needs. But spending must be done wisely, this means stronger prioritisation and greater efficiency in how Resources are allocated.

“One Key Message not just for Nigeria, but for many Countries, is the importance of strong Fiscal Institutions. Medium-Term Fiscal Frameworks and Solid Public Financial Management Systems are essential.

“They provide a Fiscal Anchor to guide necessary Adjustments and help reduce Uncertainty. We want Fiscal Policy to be a Source of Stability, not a Source of Volatility,” he said. 

Credit NAN: Texts excluding Headline

Nigeria Investment Haven, says Minister at IMF-World Bank Meetings

Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, has assured investors that Nigeria is safe for investment.

Edun said this at the Nigeria Investment Forum, at the ongoing World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Meetings in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.

According to the Minister, efforts are geared towards maintaining Fiscal Congruence.

”That’s one of the reasons for the new Team at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and their Mandate is increase Production and save Costs,” he said.

Edun said that the Administration was intensifying efforts to diversify and stabilise the Economy.

He said that Optimisation of Asset was another route to closing the gap in the Budget.

“We need to ensure that we maintain Fiscal Congruence, the Mandate of NNPCL is to increase Production and save Cost, we are also diversifying the Economy.

“We are committed to stabilising the Economy so that the Private Sector will find it attractive to invest.

“Optimisation of Asset is another route to closing the gap in the Budget, the Government believes in the Sanctity of Contracts,” Edun said.

He said that the Administration of President Bola Tinubu had implemented Foundational Reforms that were now yielding results, with the Country’s Economy expanding.

“Our Goal is not just to maintain this momentum, but to accelerate it. We are targeting seven per cent Annual Growth, and we believe the Policies we have implemented have laid the Groundwork to achieve this,” Edun said.

He said that the Macroeconomic Stability was gradually returning as reflected in narrowing Budget Deficits, improved Trade Balance, and a stabilising Exchange Rate.

Edun said the Government was now shifting its focus to targeted Sectoral Growth.

According to him, the Government top list is Agriculture as the entire Value Chain, with the goals of boosting Food Security and enhancing Productivity.

“We aim to close the Food Supply Gap, not by importing more, but by enabling Domestic Producers to scale up and innovate,” he said.

According to the Minister, about 90,000km Fiber Optic Cable to enhance Digital Connectivity has been rolled out, it is important to empowering Nigeria’s Youth and Tech Entrepreneurs.

Edun said that additional 4,000km of Roads have been tendered for Private Sector Participation, with the first 1,000km already signed off for delivery.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Yemi Cardoso, said that the difficult Reforms put in place has begun to yield fruits and the Country has been able to stabilise the Macroeconomy.

He said that the Country was not relenting on its oars in spite its Period of Crisis in the past 18 months.

Cardoso said that the efforts were all geared towards building Confidence and Trust.

“The difficult Reforms undertaken have begun to bear fruits. We have been able to stabilise Macroeconomy. Fitch has upgraded us more recently, no doubt we are in a period of heightened Uncertainty.

“We have for the past 18 months been in a Period of Crisis and our response to that period is to roll our sleeves and ensure we build a stronger Economy with respect to Resilience and Capacity to People and Institutions.

“This is all about building Confidence and Trust but moving in a direction of more Confidence and Hope, if we continue in this direction we will achieve our set Goals,” he said. 

Credit NAN: Texts excluding Headline