PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday convened a high-level strategic briefing with key figures from Nigeria’s economic, fiscal, and energy sectors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Though officially described as a routine engagement, sources within the State House told The Nation the session was both timely and tactical, given the nation’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the economy, strengthen revenue, and deepen energy reforms under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Among those in attendance were:
Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil)
Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas)
Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
Joseph Tegbe, Director General and Global Liaison for Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership
While no official communique was issued after the meetings, insiders said each official presented status updates and forward-looking briefings within their areas of oversight, with an emphasis on fiscal consolidation, monetary stability, and energy security.
Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso was expected to provide updates on current fiscal-monetary alignment strategies, inflation trends, currency management, and efforts to restore investor confidence in the financial markets.
Dr. Zacch Adedeji, head of FIRS, was reported to have updated the President on the implementation plan for four new tax laws recently signed into law by Tinubu.
The laws, set to take effect in January 2026, are designed to expand Nigeria’s tax net, reduce compliance barriers, and raise non-oil revenue in line with the federal government’s reform targets.
Finance Minister Wale Edun and Budget Minister Atiku Bagudu presented a review of ongoing budget implementation, the medium-term fiscal outlook, and projections ahead of the 2026 budget season.
Ministers of State for Petroleum (Oil and Gas), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Ekperikpe Ekpo, reportedly briefed Tinubu on updates from Nigeria’s oil and gas sectors, particularly developments under the Decade of Gas initiative, ongoing licensing rounds, infrastructure investments, and revenue enhancement strategies.
Ekpo is believed to have emphasized foreign investor engagement and public-private partnership efforts to scale Nigeria’s gas infrastructure and transition the country toward cleaner energy sources.
Another source disclosed that security matters were raised briefly in a closed-door segment of the meeting.
Joseph Tegbe, who oversees Nigeria-China strategic partnerships, was also in attendance to provide insights into bilateral investment pipelines and potential financing agreements for infrastructure and energy projects.
All officials reportedly arrived at the Presidential Villa separately and met with the President in segmented sessions, adhering to standard protocol for high-level briefings.
The consultations are part of President Tinubu’s sustained push for evidence-based decision-making as his administration moves to implement structural reforms that tackle inflation, stabilize the naira, and deliver on economic promises.
Observers note the timing of the meeting reflects a critical moment as the Tinubu-led government accelerates preparations for the 2026 fiscal year, with rising expectations on job creation, debt sustainability, and sectoral growth.
The engagement also highlights Tinubu’s hands-on leadership style, ensuring constant alignment between economic policy design and execution.