President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared that Nigeria remains resilient in the face of US President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies, including increased tariffs on Nigerian exports.
Receiving a delegation from The Buhari Organisation led by former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu said Nigeria’s economy is strong enough to withstand the new U.S. trade measures.
“If non-oil revenue is growing, then we have no fear of whatever Trump is doing on the other side,” Tinubu stated.
He noted that Nigeria had already met its 2025 revenue target by August, citing improved fiscal performance and a more stable naira, which has appreciated to about ₦1,450/$1 from ₦1,900 after his administration unified exchange rates in 2023.
Trump’s second term has brought sweeping trade changes, including a 10% baseline tariff on most imports and additional country-specific levies. Nigeria currently faces a 15% tariff on its exports, up from 14% in April. Energy exports like oil and gas remain exempt, but global energy trade has been disrupted nonetheless.
Tinubu also highlighted progress in his agricultural reforms, especially a nationwide mechanisation drive aimed at boosting food security.
“If we remove hunger, we have defeated poverty,” he said.
On party matters, Tinubu reminisced about the early days of the APC merger in 2013, revealing a disagreement with former President Muhammadu Buhari over the party’s logo.
“We even argued over a symbol. He wanted parliament, I insisted on the broom,” Tinubu said, laughing. “He’s so stubborn.”
The meeting was attended by top northern APC leaders, including Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda and former Governor Aminu Masari, signaling early political alignment ahead of the 2027 elections.
The APC was formed through a merger of four opposition parties: ACN, CPC, ANPP, and a faction of APGA. Tinubu, a former Lagos governor and ACN leader, and Buhari, who led the CPC, were key figures in the coalition that ended PDP’s 16-year rule in 2015.
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