Nigeria in Focus at the ECFR Berlin Roundtable.
Yesterday, at the invitation of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), I had the honour of participating in a high-level roundtable discussion titled “Nigeria in 2027 and Beyond,” held at the ECFR office in Berlin, Germany.
The dialogue brought together policymakers, diplomats, development experts, business leaders, representatives of international organisations, and members of the international media to discuss Nigeria’s future and its role in an increasingly interconnected global landscape.
Our discussions centred on Nigeria’s democratic journey beyond 2027, international affairs, development cooperation, and the need to strengthen bilateral partnerships that can accelerate economic growth and improve the lives of our people. A key focus of the engagement was how Nigeria can deepen collaboration with international partners to support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), recognising that they remain the backbone of every productive economy and are indispensable to job creation, innovation, wealth creation, and sustainable national development.
We also exchanged views on strengthening democratic institutions, expanding trade and investment opportunities, promoting regional stability, improving governance, and creating an enabling environment that inspires confidence among citizens, investors, and Nigeria’s international partners.
I was encouraged by the thoughtful contributions and genuine interest demonstrated by participants in Nigeria’s future. The presence of senior representatives from the German Federal Government, development agencies, business associations, policy institutes, foundations, international organisations, and respected global media organisations underscores the strategic importance of Nigeria and the shared desire to see our nation realise its enormous potential.
During the discussions, I reiterated my unwavering belief that Nigeria possesses all the human and natural resources required to become a prosperous, secure, and globally competitive nation. What is required is competent, accountable, and compassionate leadership that prioritises investment in people, education, healthcare, productive enterprise, the rule of law, and strong institutions over politics of consumption.
Nigeria’s future is bright, but only if we make the deliberate choices that will move our country from consumption to production, from poverty to prosperity, and from division to unity. By embracing good governance, fiscal responsibility, and productive partnerships with the international community, we can build an economy that works for all Nigerians and restores our nation’s standing among the comity of nations.
I sincerely thank the European Council on Foreign Relations for the invitation and all participants for a frank, engaging, and constructive exchange of ideas. Conversations such as these remain vital in fostering mutual understanding, strengthening international cooperation, and building enduring partnerships for the benefit of Nigeria, Africa, and the global community.
A New Nigeria Is POssible. - PO
@HarmlessHQ Every known principle of economics is hardly applicable in Nigeria.... Normally market forces such as demand and supply drives inflation coupled with deliberate govt policies, But Nigeria defies all principles. I doubt if tifnubu is sincere with delivering good governance
To https://t.co/SFv8JENU6a, @realDonaldTrump
PLEASE REPOST.
@PeterObi is best candidate for president of Nigeria, but will lose to the DEMON Tinubu unless the voting system is reformed from violence and corruption to free and fair elections. Will you enact diplomacy to help?
Dear Young Nigerians,
One lesson from the 2023 elections, particularly in Lagos, should never be forgotten.
In the period following the presidential election and leading up to the governorship election, we witnessed a troubling shift in public discourse. Conversations that should have focused on competence, governance, development, and the future of our nation were gradually diverted towards tribal sentiments, ethnic divisions, and unnecessary suspicion among citizens.
Many sincere and well-meaning Nigerians participated in these conversations without realising that they were being drawn into narratives carefully designed by others.
Throughout history, whenever politicians find it difficult to compete on ideas, performance, character, or vision, some resort to exploiting the fault lines of ethnicity, religion, and identity. Their calculation is simple: a divided people are easier to manipulate than a united people.
Today, I see similar efforts emerging again, sometimes in more subtle and sophisticated ways. Narratives are planted, amplified, and circulated, often by individuals who genuinely believe they are defending a worthy cause, without recognizing the broader agenda behind such campaigns.
Let me state clearly that Pastor Enoch Adeboye remains one of the foremost fathers of faith in our nation. For decades, he has consistently preached the virtues of peace, prayer, love, reconciliation, and national unity. Even when faced with provocation, his response has always reflected humility, restraint, wisdom, and grace.
At 84 years of age, it would be unfair for young and able-bodied Nigerians to transfer to him responsibilities that properly belong to them. The task of building a better Nigeria rests primarily on the shoulders of the younger generation. It is their duty to lead the conversations, champion the reforms, and drive the positive change our nation urgently requires.
We must be careful not to become instruments in the hands of those who secretly nurture division while publicly preaching unity. In most cases, their target is not the individual being attacked; instead, it is the person who is attacking. Their real objective is to weaken the bonds that hold us together as one people and one nation.
I therefore urge all young Nigerians: do not allow anyone to recruit you into hatred. Do not allow anyone to weaponise your ethnicity, your faith, or your admiration for respected leaders.
Question every narrative. Verify every claim. Follow the facts. Resist manipulation.
The Nigeria of our dreams can only be built by citizens who refuse to be divided, who choose unity over hatred, and who place our collective future above narrow interests.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
@novieverest If Alex is not performing at the pace he is currently same thing would have been said about Abia State... Tifnubu is clueless and cannot impact Nigeria positively in any way
INEC is manipulating the Voter Register.
INEC is manipulating the Voter Register.
INEC is manipulating the Voter Register.
INEC is manipulating the Voter Register.
INEC is manipulating the Voter Register.
They are systematically deleting the Voter Registration of certain demographics. Kindly rush to their portal & check to make sure that your CVR Registration is still valid & is found.
RETWEET MASSIVELY & SPREAD THE WORD!
An aide to the FCT minister has insiders within @inecnigeria who can break the laws and release voters information to him,
While the APC chieftain INEC chairman is still seated in office pretending to be a neutral electoral empire?
Nigeria is in serious Trouble and if we are serious about 2027 elections this must not be allowed to slide❗️
@inecnigeria is the Weapon fashioned against Nigeria and only Nigerians can help ourselves ❗️
@CEOSTARLIGHT1 Funny the way you eulogies this criminals in priestly apparel... There is nothing Godly and/ Jesus like in them . Their target is stomach infrastructure nothing more. if mbaka is spiritual enough he would have decerned Buhari was wolf in sheep clothing.
A CALL TO SAVE NIGERIA: NATIONWIDE PROTEST TO DEFEND NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY
#OccupyINEC#SaveNigeria
2nd April, 2026
Issued by: Obidient Movement
There are moments in the life of a nation when silence becomes dangerous and inaction becomes complicity. Nigeria has arrived at such a moment.
Across the country, there is a growing sense that the foundations of our democracy are being tested.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which should stand as an impartial guardian of the people’s will, is increasingly perceived as compromised under the present administration.
At the same time, opposition voices appear to be under pressure in ways that raise serious concerns about the future of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
When institutions lose credibility, the will of the people is endangered. And when that happens, citizens have a duty to act.
The Obidient Movement remains committed to a Nigeria where institutions are strong, elections are credible, and leadership reflects the true choice of the people. It is from this position of responsibility that we state clearly that urgent corrective action is required to restore confidence in the electoral system and protect the integrity of our democracy.
Our Demands
The resignation of the INEC Chairman for gross abuse of office, loss of public trust, and failure to uphold the neutrality required of that office.
An immediate end to political persecution, including all forms of intimidation, harassment, and targeting of opposition voices.
The protection of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy, with a halt to all actions that undermine opposition parties.
Full respect for party autonomy, ensuring that the internal leadership and integrity of political parties, including ADC, are not interfered with.
In defence of these principles, we are commencing a nationwide peaceful protest, #OccupyINEC, starting immediately across all states and the Federal Capital Territory.
This is a call to action grounded not in anger, but in duty — a collective effort to safeguard the democratic future of our country.
In Abuja, participants will converge at the ADC National Headquarters. The date and time will be announced accordingly, from where a peaceful march will proceed to the INEC Headquarters.
Across the nation, Obidients and all well-meaning Nigerians are encouraged to organise, mobilise, and participate in a coordinated and disciplined manner.
This moment goes beyond party lines. It is about the survival of democratic values and the protection of the Nigerian state itself.
We will remain peaceful, we will remain lawful, but we will not stand by while our democracy is weakened.
Nigeria must not become a one-party state. We will stand, firmly and collectively, until what is right is done.
A New Nigeria is Possible — but only if we defend it.
Signed
Obidient Movement
Daniel Bwala mocks Obidients, saying that if Peter Obi had attended an interview with Mehdi Hasan, he would have come out on a wheelchair!
I don't think so. Peter is very articulate and well-equipped to handle tough and challenging interviews.
But is Peter Obi responsible for Bwala's disastrous performance on Head To Head? Why is Bwala thinking that every other person would have done badly during that grueling interview.
Peter Obi doesn’t have a credibility baggage of lying about what he once said. So, he could not have come out of the interview on a wheelchair.
Na ALLAH Muhammad Zagga
FISCAL RECKLESSNESS
With the announcement that the Nigerian Senate is likely to approve the 2026 National Budget on March 17, every Nigerian is asking an important question: which budget will Nigeria use this year? Will it be the budgets for 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026, or some combination of all these years? It is worth noting that as of last year, in our government, implementation of budget items from the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budgets was in a unique approach to budgeting, which continues to perpetuate a trend of fiscal recklessness.
President Tinubu inherited a legally signed N21.83 trillion budget for 2023. A few months after taking office, he presented a N2.17 trillion supplementary budget that faced widespread criticism for prioritising benefits for public office holders at a time when Nigerians were enduring painful economic reforms without a credible social protection framework. Instead of restoring fiscal discipline, the President repeatedly expanded the 2023 budget without a clearly defined end date.
The pattern persisted with the passage of a N35.06 trillion budget for 2024 and a N54.99 trillion budget for 2025. In less than three years, President Tinubu has exercised appropriation powers over more than N114 trillion in public spending. Yet, the government has failed to achieve even fifty per cent budget implementation, exposing a profound crisis of budget credibility. Alarmingly, until mid-2025, Nigeria was effectively operating with about three overlapping budgets, without clear legal or fiscal guidance on when each one expired or began. No serious country manages its budgets or fiscal operations in such a manner.
Even more troubling is the government’s opaque decision to repeal the 2024 and 2025 budgets and re-enact them with extended implementation timelines. Nigerians have not seen these re-enacted budgets, and there is no public information regarding the specific capital projects included or their associated costs. This is not reform; it represents fiscal obscurity elevated to the level of state policy.
The proposed 2026 budget, despite still lacking critical details, indicates that the administration has no intention of addressing the structural weaknesses at the core of Nigeria’s public finance system.
This lack of transparency is not accidental; it reflects a deliberate pattern of undermining public scrutiny and debate. The Federal Government has stopped publishing treasury reports on the https://t.co/5LPWiKwodE portal, dismantling a vital transparency framework inherited from the previous administration. In 2025, no budget implementation report was released, regardless of how poor the performance was!
No nation can operate with such recklessness and succeed.
Every effort must be made to quickly return Nigeria to the January-December budget cycle that was inherited and mismanaged by the current government. This change would enhance effective planning and tracking, promote transparency and accountability, and foster sustainable growth and development.
A new Nigeria is POssible! -PO