By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare, writes from Abuja

Nigeria has achieved a landmark triumph in the global capital markets with the successful issuance of $2.35 billion in Eurobonds, attracting an extraordinary $13 billion orderbook — the highest in the nation’s borrowing history. The oversubscription, more than six times the offer size, stands as a bold vote of global confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Economic Reform Agenda, reinforcing Nigeria’s credibility as a disciplined and reform-driven economy.

The transaction, concluded on November 5, 2025, consisted of $1.25 billion Long 10-year bonds maturing in 2036 and $1.10 billion Long 20-year notes maturing in 2046, with yields of 8.6308% and 9.1297% respectively. Despite a turbulent international environment of high interest rates, market volatility, and cautious capital flows, the Nigerian Eurobond attracted widespread participation from investors across the United Kingdom, North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Nigeria.

The record-breaking response demonstrates that the world’s financial community is choosing confidence in Nigeria’s reforms over political noise. Notably, the result also renders recent remarks and threats by U.S. President Donald Trump against Nigeria ineffective on the international stage, as the global investment community has instead reaffirmed strong support for Nigeria’s leadership, direction, and reform agenda.

Confidence in the Renewed Hope Reforms

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his remarks, described the successful Eurobond as a resounding endorsement of his administration’s reform trajectory and the nation’s growing global credibility.

“We are delighted by the strong investor confidence demonstrated in our country and our reform agenda. This development reaffirms Nigeria’s position as a recognised and credible participant in the global capital market,” he said.

The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, OFR, noted that the oversubscription was a clear vote of confidence in the Renewed Hope Economic Reform Programme, which is focused on restoring fiscal stability, stimulating growth, and deepening investor confidence.

“This successful market access demonstrates the international community’s continued confidence in Nigeria’s reform trajectory and our commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth.”

Director-General of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, described the outcome as a milestone consistent with the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda:

“Nigeria’s ability to access the Eurobond Market to raise long-term funding needed to support the growth agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a major achievement for Nigeria and is consistent with the DMO’s objectives of supporting development and diversifying funding sources.”

Global Investors and Business Leaders React

The response from global investors has been overwhelmingly positive, with major market players praising Nigeria’s strong policy direction and resilience.

James Cartwright, Head of Emerging Market Debt at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, remarked: “Nigeria’s Eurobond success speaks louder than politics. Investors are clearly responding to the credibility of the Renewed Hope reforms and the discipline behind Nigeria’s economic management.”

Maria Estevez, Global Head of Sovereign Strategy at J.P. Morgan, added:

“The oversubscription of this magnitude shows global faith in Nigeria’s leadership. The market has ignored political tensions and focused on substance — reforms, stability, and credibility.”

David Thompson, Senior Portfolio Manager at BlackRock, observed:

“Nigeria’s policy actions are winning respect. The Renewed Hope economic reforms have restored predictability, and that’s exactly what long-term investors look for.”

Dr. Fiona Lee, Senior Economist at Standard Chartered Global Research, summed it up:

“This result sends a clear message — global markets are responding to Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary reforms, not to external threats or political rhetoric. The numbers speak for themselves.”

Financing Growth, Strengthening Stability

The proceeds from the Eurobond will fund the 2025 fiscal deficit and finance key development initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including infrastructure expansion, energy transition, and job creation. The Notes will be listed on the London Stock Exchange, FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited, and the Nigerian Exchange Limited, enhancing transparency and liquidity.

The transaction was jointly managed by Chapel Hill Denham, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Standard Chartered Bank as Joint Bookrunners, with FSDH Merchant Bank Limited serving as Financial Adviser.

A Global Vote of Confidence in Nigeria’s Direction

Nigeria’s $2.35 billion Eurobond success is not just a financial accomplishment — it is a global statement of trust. The record $13 billion orderbook reflects an emphatic message: the world believes in Nigeria’s economic recovery and in the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Despite President Trump’s recent criticisms and perceived policy threats toward Nigeria, the global markets have made their position clear — confidence in Nigeria remains unshaken. The success of the Eurobond proves that the Renewed Hope Economic Reform Agenda is winning hearts, minds, and investments across continents.

Nigeria has reasserted itself as a credible, reform-driven player in the global economy — charting a new course anchored on transparency, resilience, and renewed investor trust.

By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare writes from Abuja

By Chinedu Nsofor

On Tuesday, popular Nigerian prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele, shared a statement regarding the threat issued by President Donald Trump to invade Nigeria with military troops over reports of Christian genocide in the country.

Primate Ayodele, who vehemently opposed the idea, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to beg the US President because, according to him, Trump wants to negotiate with Nigeria for natural resources. He noted that the US president is only looking for ways to make money for his country and nothing more.

He had earlier warned Tinubu that the US is looking for ways to destabilise his government and that instead of going to beg him or negotiate, it’s better to seek God’s face and tackle insecurity adequately.

However, it appears this wise counsel didn’t sit well with a terrorist organisation, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, which expressed dissatisfaction in the statement Primate Ayodele made. This terrorist organisation, which has always supported anything that can divide the nation, stated that Primate Ayodele has always supported the APC government and that he ignored the Christians who are being killed daily. The terrorist organisation also tackled the prophet for not supporting Peter Obi during the last election.

When I read the statement which was signed by the National Director of Information, Comrade Edeson Samuel, it simply felt somewhat seeing MASSOB and Primate Ayodele in the same sentence because by every standard, MASSOB, a terrorist organisation, is just too little compared to what Primate Ayodele represents in Nigeria.

I just want to ask, what has MASSOB actually done even for the Igbo people in the nation other than hurt their businesses and waste their lives? For years, in some Southeast states, businesses have been crippled every Monday. Anyone who comes out is either shot dead or injured by MASSOB and its likes, even Peter Obi, this terrorist group is talking about now, did they support him in 2023? MASSOB has not done any good thing for the Igbos; the terrorist group is actually a curse to the Igbo people, so I wonder what is annoying this group?

For Primate Ayodele, the Igbos who have benefited from him are countless. The Igbo pastors he has are uncountable. The Igbo members of his church are countless. He even has a special service dedicated to the Igbos in his church, so I wonder what MASSOB is talking about here.

Just last week Sunday at his church, at least in pictures I saw on the internet, I saw a lot of members dressed in Igbo attire, which signifies that there are even some Sundays dedicated fully to the Igbo community. Recently, Primate Ayodele gave one of his members the sum of N1 million cash during a live service. The member, who is an Igbo man, couldn’t hold his tears while revealing that he had never seen such a huge amount of money all his life. These are records that can be found online, so I wonder where MASSOB got the audacity to speak about Primate Ayodele from.

Sincerely, the whole of MASSOB can’t lace the shoes of Primate Ayodele, and I know for sure that Igbo people will forever be grateful to Primate Ayodele, but for MASSOB, they will always rain curses on the terrorist group for robbing the good Igbo people of prosperity.

By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare

America, the world’s largest economy and symbol of democratic leadership, has now entered Day 36 of its historic federal government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history. Once again, it is under the watch of Donald J. Trump, who is repeating his own record from his first term. What was once dismissed as a political bargaining tactic has now become a national tragedy and a global warning.

The paralysis of the American government has brought hardship to millions. Across federal offices, the lights are off, salaries frozen, projects halted, and workers left uncertain about their future. Families are facing eviction notices, children are being withdrawn from schools due to unpaid fees, and hospitals are overwhelmed as medical coverage lapses for many government employees. The shutdown is eroding public confidence in institutions that once stood as pillars of strength.

THE HUMAN AND ECONOMIC TOLL

More than 4,100 federal employees have been laid off, while over 10,000 more are awaiting the same fate if the impasse continues. Hundreds of thousands remain furloughed, trapped in a cycle of unpaid work and financial distress. Small businesses that depend on government contracts are folding. Air travel is experiencing chaos as unpaid air traffic controllers call in sick, security personnel are stretched thin, and flight schedules are disrupted nationwide. Tourism has taken a deep hit as national parks remain closed, costing the hospitality and travel industry millions of dollars daily.

Consumer confidence is crashing. The stock market is jittery, responding nervously to Washington’s dysfunction. Banks have begun tightening credit lines as loan defaults rise among affected households. Grocery sales are falling as families ration food; retail chains are reporting declining foot traffic. Real estate markets are freezing up as mortgage approvals stall, and construction projects funded through federal programs are abandoned midstream. Public universities relying on federal grants have suspended research. Scientists, engineers, and innovators are being forced to pause vital national projects, weakening America’s technological edge.

The ripple extends to the private sector, where suppliers to government agencies have lost billions. From defense contractors to IT service providers, uncertainty has stalled productivity. Manufacturing output is shrinking as import bottlenecks persist under frozen customs operations. The shutdown has delayed the release of critical economic data, leaving both the Federal Reserve and global investors blind to key metrics. Even the agricultural sector is suffering, with farmers unable to access subsidies or export permits, deepening the crisis in rural America.

“The longer the shutdown continues, the more we worry about those permanent effects on the economy,” said Andrew Hollenhorst, Chief Economist at Citi.

GLOBAL FALLOUT

The global economy is trembling from America’s self-inflicted wound. International markets depend heavily on the stability of the U.S. government and its currency. With Washington at a standstill, foreign investors are pulling back, global credit is tightening, and the U.S. dollar is losing its commanding certainty. The shutdown has halted trade negotiations and delayed aid disbursements to partner nations, creating economic gaps in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Global oil prices are fluctuating erratically, and shipping routes are slowing due to reduced American import demand.

“The trust deficit has been there for a long time because of how Trump’s acted,” noted Senator Andy Kim, lamenting the erosion of America’s bipartisan cooperation.

While the U.S. reels under confusion, China is gaining quiet strength. Beijing’s steady governance and sustained industrial output have made it a magnet for investors fleeing American volatility. With U.S. trade policies in disarray, China is expanding its influence across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, consolidating its reputation as the world’s most stable major economy. The U.S. tariffs and trade restrictions of Trump’s earlier years have now come full circle — hurting American farmers, consumers, and manufacturers while empowering Chinese competitors.

Analysts at JPMorgan Chase estimate that each week of the shutdown reduces U.S. GDP by 0.1 percentage points, a loss that compounds with every passing day. The Federal Reserve warns of long-term scarring to employment, business confidence, and investment flows. Every day the government remains shut adds billions in losses — unrecoverable and irreversible. The once-booming U.S. economy is now bleeding internally, not from external wars but from internal political warfare.

PAINFUL RECOVERY AHEAD

Even if the government reopens tomorrow, the damage will not simply vanish. Workers will need months to recover from unpaid bills. Businesses will face severe liquidity gaps. Federal projects, scientific research, and military readiness will take time to restart. The psychological cost — fear, mistrust, fatigue — will linger longer than the shutdown itself. Foreign partners, once reliant on American leadership, are quietly reorienting toward other alliances.

“This is no longer a shutdown,” remarked a Brookings Institution economist. “It’s a slow-motion implosion of credibility.”

The shutdown has triggered unemployment, hunger, insecurity, educational disruption, health crises, and the slow decay of national morale. It has shaken the financial markets, reduced America’s international standing, delayed innovation, increased global inflation, strained international relations, halted diplomatic travel, weakened the dollar, and fuelled global economic anxiety. These are not isolated problems; they are interlinked consequences of one man’s egocentric governance.

Trump, who once promised to make America great again, has instead rendered it uncertain, divided, and economically fragile. His second shutdown, longer and costlier than the first, underscores the peril of leadership built on pride rather than principle. As America remains shut down, the rest of the world moves on — recalibrating, rebuilding, and realigning.

The United States once represented reliability. Today, it symbolizes dysfunction. Its economic heart is faint, its moral compass spinning. And as nations adjust to life without America at the helm, one painful truth emerges: the world’s greatest democracy is now teaching others how not to govern.