President Bola Tinubu has stated that insecurity remains Nigeria’s most serious concern, particularly in the north.
He stated on Saturday in Kaduna that immediate action was needed to reestablish confidence, strengthen unity, and restore safety across communities.
Tinubu, represented by Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, spoke at the Arewa Consultative Forum’s (ACF) 25th anniversary and the establishment of its Endowment Fund.
The president stated that insecurity must be addressed aggressively to avoid additional economic collapse and educational failures.
Tinubu said, “Nothing troubles me more gravely than the security crisis bedevilling Nigeria, especially Northern Nigeria,
“We cannot prosper when one limb of the national body is paralyzed.”
He stated that his administration inherited complex security challenges but was addressing them with “urgency and determination.”
The president stated that the government was dedicated to removing terrorist and bandit groups operating in the North and turning around the region’s economic collapse.
He voiced confidence in Northern Nigeria’s economic potential, stating he looks forward to the day when crude oil tankers begin to depart from Kolmani and other northern oil fields.
Tinubu noted that critical infrastructure projects, including the Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano Superhighways, were being expedited for completion and commissioning.
He stated that the North must speak up in an honest and bold manner to confront its difficulties, warning that the region will not progress if leaders fail to protect vulnerable groups.
“We fail the day we sleep comfortably while millions sleep with empty bellies, the day fear becomes a permanent companion for travellers,” he said.
Tinubu noted that, while decades of dysfunction had strained unity, the variety reflected at the ACF anniversary demonstrated a collective will to resist division and restore togetherness.
The president complimented the ACF for serving as Northern Nigeria’s conscience for 25 years, stating that the forum has constantly supported dignity, fairness, and equality for millions.
He referred to the Silver Jubilee as a celebration of courage, activism, and principled service.
Tinubu asked leaders from all sectors to recommit to the values that prompted the ACF’s formation, emphasizing that the North’s unity and stability were critical to Nigeria’s overall peace and progress.
