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Mixed Reactions Trail President Tinubu’s N49.7 Trillion 2025 Budget Proposal

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s N49.7 trillion 2025 budget proposal, presented to the National Assembly on Wednesday, has sparked a range of reactions from economists and analysts, with both praise and criticism following its release. The proposed budget marks a significant increase from the N30.94 trillion presented in 2024.
A closer look at the budget shows substantial allocations for key sectors, including Defence & Security (N4.91 trillion), Infrastructure (N4.06 trillion), Education (N3.52 trillion), and Health (N2.48 trillion). These priorities are seen as addressing the country’s critical challenges, with the president projecting a GDP growth rate of 4.6%, inflation reduction to 15.75%, and an exchange rate of N1,500 per dollar. The budget also anticipates a revenue target of N36.36 trillion and a deficit of N13.39 trillion.
Economists have weighed in with both support and caution. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, praised the budget’s focus on Defence, Infrastructure, Health, and Education, considering Nigeria’s current socio-economic situation. He emphasized that the president’s assumptions—such as reduced fuel imports, increased agricultural output, and improved foreign exchange inflows—are achievable with proper implementation. However, Yusuf also raised concerns about the N15 trillion allocated for debt service and the ambitious revenue projections, which could result in higher taxes or fees, placing additional pressure on investors.
Prof. Godwin Oyedokun, a university professor, criticized key assumptions in the budget, particularly the projected exchange rate of N1,500 per dollar, which he deemed unrealistic given the current parallel market rates. He also questioned the $75 per barrel crude oil price benchmark, calling it overly optimistic amid global oil market volatility and environmental shifts. Oyedokun noted that the target oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day could face obstacles, including oil theft and infrastructure issues.
On the matter of security spending, Oyedokun acknowledged the need for defense funding due to the nation’s security challenges but raised concerns about balancing defense priorities with human development. He also warned that the healthcare deficit in the budget could exacerbate existing challenges in the healthcare sector, despite the planned infrastructure investments.
Bismark Rewane, CEO of Financial Derivatives, remained optimistic about the potential impact of the budget, suggesting it could lead to improvements in 2025 if properly executed.
While the budget aims to address Nigeria’s long-standing issues, experts stress the importance of adjusting unrealistic assumptions, diversifying revenue sources, improving tax collection, and investing in human capital and sustainable development to ensure long-term economic stability.
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PANDEF Clarifies Visit To Tinubu, Knocks Wike Over Inflammatory Comments

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to retract his publicly disparaging remarks made recently against the socio-political body.
PANDEF described as regrerrable and embarrassing comments by Wike in the aftermath of the group’s visit to Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, even to the extent of insulting the late former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin.
Recall that the FCT minister had, on Thursday, during a media chat, described PANDEF as “the worst organisation anybody can rely on”, while also calling the board of trustee members of the body “political merchants”.
In a statement signed by PANDEF Chairman on Saturday in Abuja, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, urged President Tinubu as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent.
Igali clarified that the meeting with the president provided a valuable platform to discuss pressing issues of national and regional importance. Adding that “PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region.”
His words: ^To set the record straight, PANDEF the foremost socio-political body representing the South-South regions, composed of some of Nigeria’s most distinguished personalities. The delegation to Mr. President included chairpersons of at least four of the six SouthSouth states’ traditional councils, senior traditional rulers of major ethnic groups, former governors, past presiding officers of the Senate, prominent entrepreneurs, academics, and high-ranking retired military officers.
“It is, therefore, highly regrettable and totally unacceptable that a serving minister in the Federal Government would exhibit such brazen disrespect towards individuals of this standing. This attitude perhaps explains his continued refusal of the Minister to engage with the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which PANDEF constituted as far back as October 2024, despite repeated attempts to reach.
“The Honourable Minister (Wike) characterized PANDEF as the worst organization ever” and accused its members of visiting the Presidential Villa merely to solicit financial favors. These statements are not only false but also unbecoming of a public official of his stature.
“PANDEF hereby calls upon Mr. President, as the father of the nation, to prevail upon the Honourable Minister to retract his inflammatory statements and extend due respect to these eminent Nigerians and traditional rulers who were, after all, esteemed guests of the Commander-in-Chief. It is apt to remind that the Minister does not own the Niger-Delta and his errant conduct should not be condoned.
“Notwithstanding this regrettable development, PANDEF remains unwavering in its commitment to peace, stability, and equitable development in the Niger Delta. We will continue to engage with great vigour, all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of lasting harmony in Rivers State and the broader South-South region,” Igali stated.
On efforts to restore peace in River State, Igali restated PANDEF’s commitment for peace in the oil-rich State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Peace and Reconciliation Committee, which remains committed to resolving the Rivers State crisis,” Igali stated.
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