Why Is Peter Obi So Hell-Bent on De-Marketing Nigeria Despite Positive Developments? - By Reno Omokri

Since 2023, Peter Obi has said nothing good about Nigeria, except occasionally celebrating our Super Eagles when they win and blaming the Federal Government when they lose. Rather, Mr Obi uses every platform he can get to de-market Nigeria. Does it mean nothing good has happened in Nigeria after 2023?

In case Mr Obi is not aware, let me list 12 positive developments in Nigeria that he has ignored.

One: On Monday, January 5, 2026, the total market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange hit and crossed the ₦100 trillion mark for the first time ever, and ended the day at ₦101.807 trillion.

Two: In just two years, President Tinubu added $67 billion to Nigeria’s GDP, moving us from a ₦269.29 trillion economy on May 29, 2023, when he became President, to ₦372.8 trillion today.

Three: President Tinubu inherited a $113 billion debt burden, which he has reduced to $97 billion.

Four: The Economist Magazine reported last week that Nigeria’s “golden years” are likely to return due to President Tinubu’s reforms, and the IMF listed Nigeria as the sixth-largest contributor to global GDP growth in 2025, a fact celebrated by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man.

Five: On May 29, 2023, Nigeria was Africa’s biggest importer of refined petroleum products, according to the research consultancy, CITAC. Today, South Africa has overtaken Nigeria as the continent’s top fuel importer, and in a remarkable twist, Nigeria is now the largest exporter of petroleum products in West Africa.

Six: Nigeria’s inflation rate has fallen from a thirty-year high of 34.8% in December 2024 to a historic low of 15.2% in December 2025, while our foreign reserves are approaching $50 billion.

Seven: Nigeria achieved a record $6.83 billion trade surplus in 2024, and is set to beat that record when the 2025 numbers come out.

Eight: Nigeria’s passport had been upgraded from the 97th strongest in the world under General Buhari to the 88th most powerful passport on Earth today, according to the latest Henley Passport Index.

Nine: Nigeria achieved a record Foreign Portfolio Investment of $20 billion in 2025, our highest ever.

Ten: For the first time in 37 years, a Nigerian leader is having a State Visit to the United Kingdom.

Eleven: In April 2025, Fitch Ratings upgraded Nigeria’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘B’ from ‘B-. As a result of the Federal Government’s monetary and fiscal policy, which led to significant economic growth, American Express introduced its first-ever business credit card in Nigeria, thereby expanding access to credit for Nigerian businesses.

Twelve: For the first time in over a decade, Nigeria has exceeded its OPEC quota for four consecutive months and is set to do so for the fifth month, producing an average of 1.71 million barrels per day. Oil theft has been reduced to less than 10,000 barrels per day, a sixteen-year low.

Yet, with all these and more, all you, Peter Obi, see is doom and gloom. You ignore these feats and instead are alert to even the most remote and minor negative events, ever ready to blow them out of proportion.

Why, Peter Obi? Why do you de-market and undermine Nigeria so gleefully and prolifically?