Nigeria not at war, Edun tells investors

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, has assured investors that the country’s recent joint security operation with the United States in Sokoto will not destabilise markets, but rather reinforce economic confidence.

Speaking in a statement on Sunday, Edun emphasised that the operation, conducted on Christmas Day, was intelligence-led and targeted solely at terrorist elements threatening national stability and communities.

The PUNCH reports that US President Donald Trump had made good on his threat of military action against terrorists in Nigeria — a threat he made in November that financial markets reacted to negatively.

Trump, on his Truth Social platform, had said, “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, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries.

‘I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.

“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”

The military strikes have since been framed as an operation approved by the Federal Government, with more strikes likely.

In his statement on Sunday, Edun stressed that Nigeria is not at war with itself or any other country, and that the action is part of ongoing efforts to safeguard citizens and protect economic activity.

“The operation in question was precise, intelligence-led, and focused exclusively on terrorist elements that threaten innocent lives, national stability, and economic activity. 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,” he said.