The Federal Government has said there is no more hiding place for terrorists and other criminal elements in Nigerian forests.

The declaration comes as the government indicated the recent signing of a $5.1 billion health agreement with the United States is proof that diplomatic relations between both countries were not damaged, but intact.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this at an end-of-year press conference he organised in Abuja.

Idris recalled the release of the remaining 130 pupils of St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, on Sunday, and confirmed that all the abducted pupils, numbering 230, have been freed and not a single pupil was left in captivity due to the efforts of the security agencies.

Idris, on behalf of the Federal Government, empathised with the parents of the pupils for the anguish the abduction caused them, and wished them a pleasant family reunion and a good healing process.

He also said the year 2025 saw the presidential declaration of a nationwide security emergency that will, in the months ahead, translate into massive recruitment into the Armed Forces and the Police Force, and the deployment of trained and equipped Forest Guards to secure the forests and other vulnerable locations.

“What we used to have in the past is that there are dark spots within our forests that are largely unmanned and have created safe havens for these terrorists and criminal elements. With this kind of recruitment and this declaration by Mr President, there will be no hiding place for all these criminals and these terrorists hiding in our forests,” Idris said.

Speaking further, Idris said in the outgoing year the government established a new national counter-terrorism doctrine that is anchored on four critical pillars: unified command, intelligence, community stability, and counter-insurgency.

He recalled that in 2025, two of the most internationally wanted criminals—the ISWAP head residing in Nigeria—were captured through the coordination of all the security agencies and intelligence agencies.

“Don’t forget that Abu Bara was captured a few months ago and he was also presented to the public by the National Security Adviser and other security chiefs. This is one of the most wanted terrorists on the African continent and he was captured through the coordination of security forces. Remember also that this was someone who had a large sum of money put on his head by even the Americans, to capture him and bring him to justice. As we speak today, this gentleman, together with his chief of staff, are having their day in court and they are going to get the justice that befits them.

“Let me be clear about what this means: that henceforth, any armed group that kidnaps our children, that attacks our farmers, that terrorises our communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist organisation; any individual or any group. This is the declaration that Mr President has made. The era of ambiguous nomenclature is over!

“If you terrorise our people, whether you are a group or you are an individual, you are a terrorist and you will be classified as such. There is no hiding under this again,” Idris stated.

On the international scene, Idris said Nigeria has become a respected player on the global stage.

To prove his point, the minister explained that in 2025 the country navigated very complex international diplomacy with maturity, principle and dignity that Nigerians are known for.

“For example, the recent diplomatic spat with the United States has been largely resolved through firm, respectful engagement, culminating in a strengthened partnership between America and Nigeria.

“Let me say it here that what has happened, as bad as it was, has also helped to strengthen the kind of collaboration that Nigeria is having with the United States of America, especially in the area of security, making sure that Nigerians live free of crime and criminal elements.

“As a further demonstration of this, and only a few days ago, the Federal Government of Nigeria signed a five-year, $5.1 billion bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States of America. So, for those who are thinking that Nigeria’s relationship with the United States has been damaged, there is further proof only a few days ago of this cooperation agreement signed between Nigeria and the United States,” Idris also said.

Speaking further on the agreement, Idris explained that the United States will provide $2.1 billion in grant funding, while Nigeria commits $3 billion.

“This has been described as the largest co-investment by any country to date under the America First Global Health Strategy. This will strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system, it will save lives, and also attract investment,” Idris added.

He dismissed insinuations in some quarters that a particular religion was mentioned by the United States to benefit from the agreement, saying every Nigerian will be a beneficiary of the arrangement.

Earlier, the minister said the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.98 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, demonstrating resilient and sustained expansion in the non-oil sector.

He also said headline inflation has declined for eight consecutive months, to stand at 14.45 per cent in November 2025.

Food inflation, he stated, is also on a steady downward trend.

“Our external reserves have strengthened to approximately $44.56 billion, providing a robust buffer that stabilises our currency and assures international investors.

“Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of ₦6.69 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, a 27.29 per cent growth year-on-year.

“The most recent Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data—an important measure of business sentiment—indicates that Nigeria has now seen 12 consecutive months of expansion in economic activities.

“On March 4, 2025, Nigeria recorded a maximum daily energy of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh) nationwide—the highest ever in our history.

“Also in the power sector, 2025 saw the kick-off of the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), as well as the issuance of the first bond under the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme, the single largest coordinated financial intervention in the history of our power sector.

“A massively oversubscribed Eurobond issuance, attracting orders amounting to 400 per cent of the target of $2.3 billion USD; demonstrating strong investor confidence in our macroeconomic reforms.

“Nigeria exited the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, reflecting sustained and coordinated reforms in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crimes, and marking the start of a new reputational and operational chapter for our financial sector,” the minister explained. (This Day)

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