Speaking at the Bauchi Investment Summit 2025, Shettima highlighted the Tinubu administration’s bold reforms, which have reduced the debt service-to-revenue ratio from nearly 100% to under 50% and boosted GDP growth to 4.23%. Non-oil revenues surged by 411% year-on-year, with external reserves reaching $43 billion and a tax-to-GDP ratio climbing to 13.5%.
Shettima attributed this turnaround to decisive measures, including exchange rate harmonization and the removal of fuel subsidies, which had previously enabled rent-seeking. “Nobody builds a house in a tsunami,” he remarked, emphasizing stability as the foundation for growth. He urged investors to seize the moment, stating, “There is no better time to choose Nigeria.”
The two-day summit showcased Bauchi State’s investment potential, from its vast arable land and solid minerals to its tourism and renewable energy prospects. Shettima highlighted opportunities in climate-smart agriculture, agro-processing, and responsible mining, urging stakeholders to commit to concrete memoranda of understanding and timelines for project execution. He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to security, noting, “No economy can thrive where fear replaces freedom.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo stressed the need for partnerships across government, private sectors, and communities, while expressing concern over Nigeria’s cement industry. The Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad III, challenged northern governors to translate summit resolutions into action, noting the region’s untapped potential. Former Head of Civil Service Mahmud Yayale Ahmed underscored education, governance, and public-private partnerships as critical for development.
