President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to defeat terrorism and ensure a secure and prosperous Nigeria despite what he described as “political headwinds.”

Tinubu made the remark on Thursday after receiving an update on the state of the economy from Wale Edun, the coordinating minister of the economy.

The president said Nigeria would continue to engage with global partners diplomatically, emphasizing that his government remains focused on national security and stability.

“Despite the political headwinds and the fear of our people, we continue to engage our partners,” Tinubu said.

“We are engaging the world diplomatically. I assure you all that we will defeat terrorism.

“The task ahead is to move forward with clarity of purpose guided by the Renewed Hope agenda to build a prosperous Nigeria.”

Tinubu’s statement comes in the wake of recent comments by US President Donald Trump, who threatened possible military action in Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians.

Over the weekend, Trump instructed the US Department of War to “prepare for possible action” in Nigeria, while designating the country as a “country of particular concern” for what he called the systematic persecution of Christians.

Before Trump’s remarks, some US lawmakers had called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take firm diplomatic measures against the Nigerian government over alleged “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians.”

However, the federal government has dismissed these claims, insisting that there are no targeted religious killings in Nigeria.

United States President Donald Trump has reiterated his warning of potential military action in Nigeria over the alleged targeted killing of Christians by extremist groups in the country.

In a video broadcast on Wednesday, Trump, speaking behind a lectern adorned with the seal of his office, condemned the attacks said to be perpetrated by radical Islamist factions. He cautioned that there would be “immediate consequences” if Nigerian authorities failed to take decisive steps to stop the violence.

The US President restated that Washington would cut off all forms of aid to Nigeria if the killings persist, warning that “there would be hell to pay.”

Trump disclosed that he had directed the US Department of War to prepare for possible intervention, adding that any military action would be “vicious and sweet.”

He described the situation as an “existential threat” to Christianity in Nigeria.

Quoting him, Trump said: “If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid assistance to Nigeria.

“We are going to do things to Nigerians that Nigeria is not going to be happy about and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.

“I am hereby instructing the Department of War to prepare for possible actions. If we attack, it is going to be vicious and sweet just as the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians. The Nigerian government had better move fast before it is too late.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands and thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.”

Trump also directed Riley Moore, a member of the US House of Representatives, and Tom Cole, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, to investigate the killings and provide an immediate report.

He emphasised that the United States “cannot stand by” while such acts continue, stressing America’s commitment to protecting Christian communities not only in Nigeria but around the world.

Video credit: Theeagleonline

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has withdrawn its N100 billion lawsuit challenging the issuance of import licences for petroleum products in Nigeria.

The company had, on September 6, 2024, filed the suit against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) as the first defendant, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited as the second defendant. Five other companies were also listed as co-defendants in the case.

The additional defendants were AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited.

In the suit, Dangote Refinery asked the court to declare that the NMDPRA violated Sections 317(8) and 317(9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by issuing licences for petroleum product importation. The company contended that, under the PIA, such licences could only be granted when there was a shortfall in local petroleum product supply.

At the resumed court session on Wednesday, counsel to the plaintiff, C. O. Adegbe, informed the court that Dangote Refinery had filed a notice of discontinuance of the suit on July 28, after all parties agreed that the matter should be struck out.

Following the submission by Adegbe and the responses from the defence lawyers, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, subsequently dismissed the suit.