All Abducted Niger School Pupils Freed as FG Unveils 2025 Scorecard, 2026 Roadmap

The Federal Government has confirmed the release of all 230 abducted pupils of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, following the rescue of the remaining 130 students, bringing an end to weeks of anxiety for parents and communities.

The announcement was made on Monday by the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, FNIPR, during the 2025 End-of-Year Press Conference held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

“With this development, it can be confirmed that all the abducted pupils, numbering 230, have been freed. Not a single pupil is left in captivity due to the efforts of our security agencies,” Idris said.

He conveyed the Federal Government’s sympathy to affected families and extended Christmas and New Year goodwill

messages on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wishing them peaceful reunions and healing.

Reviewing the outgoing year, the Minister said he was acting on presidential directive to account for the administration’s stewardship in 2025 and outline a clear blueprint for 2026.

Economic resilience and reform gains

According to Idris, Nigeria’s economy recorded notable improvements in 2025, with GDP growth of 3.98 per cent in Q3, driven largely by the non-oil sector. He added that headline inflation declined for eight consecutive months to 14.45 per cent in November, while external reserves strengthened to $44.56 billion.

“Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of N6.69 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, representing a 27.29 per cent year-on-year growth,” he disclosed.

Other highlights included 12 consecutive months of expansion in business activity as measured by the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a record daily energy output of 128,370.75 MWh, and the launch of the Presidential Metering Initiative alongside a historic power-sector debt reduction bond.

The Minister also noted Nigeria’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, describing it as a major reputational boost for the financial sector, while a massively oversubscribed Eurobond issuance signaled renewed investor confidence.

Idris revealed that President Tinubu approved the N1.5 trillion recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture, the largest single investment in agricultural financing in recent history, and committed over N1.5 trillion to road infrastructure in 2025.

Central to this effort, he said, are four legacy highway projects, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, designed with reinforced concrete pavements to last up to 100 years.

Youth empowerment and skills development

On youth-focused interventions, the Minister said over 788,000 students benefited from NELFUND interest-free loans and stipends worth more than N150 billion, while programmes such as iDICE, the Student Venture Capital Grant, and the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative advanced entrepreneurship and digital skills.

“We are turning our brightest minds into job creators, not just job seekers,” Idris stated.

The Minister disclosed that 2025 saw a presidential declaration of a nationwide security emergency, paving the way for massive recruitment into security agencies and the deployment of forest guards.

He added that a new national counterterrorism doctrine now classifies all kidnapping and violent armed groups as terrorist organisations.

“The era of ambiguous nomenclature is over,” he declared.

Internationally, Idris said Nigeria strengthened diplomatic ties, resolved tensions with the United States and signed a $5.1 billion bilateral health cooperation MoU, described as the largest co-investment under the America First Global Health Strategy.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council, multiple international leadership appointments by Nigerians, and hosting rights secured for major global and continental events between 2026 and 2027.

Looking ahead, Idris said President Tinubu’s N58.18 trillion 2026 Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity prioritises infrastructure and security, with N26.08 trillion for capital expenditure and N5.41 trillion for defence and security.

“The temporary pains of reform are yielding to permanent gains,” the Minister said, expressing confidence that 2026 would deepen stability, accountability and inclusive growth.

He concluded by urging Nigerians to remain hopeful and supportive, describing the nation as “truly on the move.”