Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured global and local investors that Nigeria has exited its phase of economic instability, describing the present moment as the most favourable time to invest in the country.
Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of the Bauchi Investment Summit 2025, Senator Shettima attributed the nation’s economic turnaround to the decisive reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, aimed at dismantling long-standing barriers to economic progress.
He said the government inherited an economy burdened by a near 100 percent debt service-to-revenue ratio but has successfully reduced it to less than 50 percent. “Our GDP growth stood at 4.23 percent as of last month, while non-oil revenues rose by 411 percent year-on-year. Our tax-to-GDP ratio now stands at 13.5 percent, up from 7 percent, and our external reserves have grown to $43 billion as of September 2025,” he announced.
Declaring that “Nigeria has exited its phase of economic instability,” the Vice President said the administration’s early decision to harmonize exchange rates and remove fuel subsidies was necessary to restore economic confidence. “You cannot guarantee enduring growth without stability,” he stressed, noting that the Tinubu administration was determined to create a predictable and transparent investment environment.
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Shettima emphasized that the government’s development priorities—job creation, food security, value-chain development, and subnational economic growth—were rooted in stability and sound policy direction. He added that Bauchi State’s natural endowments, including vast arable land, solid minerals, and tourism potential, perfectly align with the federal government’s diversification drive.
“The Federal Government remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring security across the nation because no economy can thrive where fear replaces freedom and insecurity undermines enterprise,” he stated.
The Vice President commended Governor Bala Mohammed for organizing the summit, urging participants to move beyond deliberations and focus on implementation. “I charge you to commit to concrete memoranda of understanding, set timelines, and appoint joint implementation teams to ensure tangible milestones,” Shettima said.
He added that Bauchi’s rich agricultural and mineral potential could drive “climate-smart agriculture, responsible mining, and agro-industrial growth” through partnerships with the private sector.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also spoke at the summit, underscored the importance of governance, security, and partnership in attracting investment. He called on stakeholders to embrace what he termed the “Five Ps”—Politics, People, Protection, Partnership, and Progress—as the pillars of sustainable development.
Governor Bala Mohammed assured investors of safety and business-friendly reforms in Bauchi, pledging to implement the summit’s resolutions. He lauded the Federal Government for the establishment of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), which he said has accelerated regional development.
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, cautioned against the culture of hosting summits without follow-up action, urging northern leaders to implement decisions that drive real progress. “Nobody can take us out of our economic challenges except we, ourselves,” he declared.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Chairman of the North-East Governors’ Forum and Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum; former Head of Service of the Federation, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed; and business magnate Alhaji Mohammed Indimi.
The two-day summit aims to attract private capital into key sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, renewable energy, and tourism, positioning Bauchi and the North-East as viable investment destinations in Nigeria’s new growth phase.