President Bola Tinubu on Friday vowed that individuals financing terrorism and other violent crimes across the country would face severe consequences, declaring that the Federal Government would not spare those responsible for the bloodshed of innocent Nigerians.
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In his nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 27th consecutive Democracy Day celebration, Tinubu issued a stern warning to bandits, kidnappers and their sponsors, urging them to surrender or face decisive action from security agencies.
He stated that the government’s offer of rehabilitation would not remain available indefinitely.
The President said, “To bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror, surrender now or face the full force of the Nigerian state. The opportunity for surrender will not remain open forever. Those who profit from the blood of Nigerians should expect no mercy.”
Highlighting gains recorded in the fight against insecurity, Tinubu disclosed that more than 13,000 terrorists had been eliminated within the last year, while terror-related fatalities had dropped significantly compared to previous years.
He noted that security operations had advanced from international training collaborations to targeted military offensives against insurgent groups.
According to him, Nigerian forces recently dismantled a major command centre of the Islamic State West Africa Province in Borno State, describing the operation as part of intensified efforts to weaken terrorist networks across the country.
The President, however, maintained that the administration remained committed to rehabilitation efforts for repentant insurgents.
He revealed that over 124,000 former fighters and their dependents had surrendered through the Operation Safe Corridor programme since 2023.
Tinubu further disclosed that the Federal Government had earmarked N5.41tn for defence and security in the 2026 budget, describing the allocation as the highest in the nation’s history.
He added that more than 50,000 police officers, alongside thousands of military recruits, had been approved for recruitment to strengthen security nationwide.
The President acknowledged that this year’s Democracy Day celebrations were overshadowed by the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo and Borno states, expressing optimism that the victims would regain their freedom soon.
He stressed that security remained fundamental to democratic governance, noting that his administration had already declared a security emergency to tackle emerging threats across the country.
Calling for national unity, Tinubu urged Nigerians to refrain from ethnic or religious profiling of criminals, insisting that criminality should not be linked to any tribe or faith.
“At a time like this, we must avoid blaming one another. Crime has no ethnic or religious identity. We must remain united and confident that the enemies of our nation will ultimately be defeated,” he said.
On electricity supply, the President attributed the sector’s challenges to years of inadequate generation, weak transmission infrastructure, poor revenue collection and a huge metering gap inherited by his administration in 2023.
He said the government had taken steps to address the problems through the implementation of the Electricity Act, which empowers states to participate in electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
He also disclosed that a presidential task force had been mandated to raise a N4tn bond to clear verified legacy debts in the power sector.
Tinubu added that the Rural Electrification Agency, with support from international development partners, was expanding access to electricity through off-grid and mini-grid projects targeted at underserved communities, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and markets.
Speaking on the economy, the President said government revenues had improved, investor confidence was gradually returning, and key sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, mining, energy and technology were attracting fresh investments.
He stated that non-oil exports increased by 21 per cent in the previous year, while more than 1,000 small and medium-scale enterprises had been certified for export activities.
He also revealed that the National Agricultural Development Fund had commenced plans to deploy 10,000 tractors over a five-year period to boost food production.
Despite the reported gains, Tinubu admitted that many Nigerians were still grappling with economic hardship.
He assured citizens that his administration would continue efforts to reduce inflation, create jobs, improve living standards and ensure that the benefits of economic reforms reached households across the country.
“We are transitioning from uncertainty to stability. The next phase is to accelerate growth and ensure that the benefits of democracy are felt in every home, community and region. Democracy must have a positive impact on the lives of ordinary Nigerians,” the President said.
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