President Bola Tinubu on Monday declared that Nigeria would overcome terrorism and banditry, describing the security challenges confronting the country as unacceptable and inconsistent with the nation’s values.
The President made the declaration while opening the Second National Economic Council (NEC) Conference at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. He reassured Nigerians of his administration’s commitment to strengthening the country’s security architecture and restoring peace in troubled communities.
“I promise you here that I’ll play my part. Seven zones of mechanisation are coming. I promise Nigerians that this will be delivered, and I am here again to further find ways to strengthen our security forces and defeat terrorism,” Tinubu said.
He acknowledged that insecurity remains a major concern for his administration, adding that the government would deploy determination and resilience to tackle the menace.
“That, I promise you, is what has kept all of us sleepless at night, but I assure you we will win with determination and resilience. We will overcome this unacceptable terrorism and banditry. It’s not part of our culture. It’s foreign to us,” he added.
The President described insecurity as a significant obstacle to economic growth and called for collective action to address the problem. He commended the governors of Borno, Katsina and Kaduna states, alongside others, for their efforts in combating insecurity and protecting national interests.
Tinubu welcomed state governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly, development partners and private sector leaders to the two-day conference themed “Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable National Development: The Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026–2030.” He described the gathering as a demonstration of shared commitment to Nigeria’s progress.
He also praised the National Economic Council, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, for providing a vital platform for policy coordination and strategic dialogue across different tiers of government.
“I am pleased to address the second edition of the National Economic Council Conference at a critical moment in Nigeria’s development journey. NEC remains a cornerstone of fiscal federalism and economic governance in our country,” the President said.
Highlighting the achievements of his administration, Tinubu stated that ongoing economic reforms had stabilised the economy and restored investor confidence. He noted that the monetary policy reforms implemented by his government had received global recognition.
“I must say again at this juncture, the monetary policy that we have embarked on since the reforms has yielded positive results and gained recognition around the world,” he said.
The President commended the Central Bank of Nigeria, led by Governor Yemi Cardoso, for helping to rebuild trust in the country’s monetary system. He also revealed that increased and more predictable federal allocations to state and local governments had enhanced their capacity to pay salaries, invest in infrastructure and deliver social services.
Tinubu further disclosed that his administration had prioritised infrastructure development across key sectors, including transportation, power, digital connectivity, housing and irrigation. He added that social investment and human capital development programmes had been expanded to support vulnerable households, youths, women and small businesses.
“The Renewed Hope Ward Development Project further demonstrates our commitment to grassroots inclusion through a bottom-up approach to national development. These successes reflect strong collaboration among the federal and state governments, development partners and the private sector,” he said.
Speaking on the Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026–2030, Tinubu described it as the next phase of Nigeria’s development strategy, focused on inclusive, resilient and environmentally sustainable growth. He explained that the plan emphasises economic diversification, human capital development, subnational competitiveness, private sector-driven growth and climate resilience.
According to him, the success of the plan would depend largely on effective implementation at the state and local government levels, stressing that NEC would play a central role in aligning national policies with subnational priorities.
“This Conference has reinforced collaboration, shared accountability and a focus on practical solutions and measurable outcomes. We must move decisively from declarations to implementation through data-driven decision-making, peer learning among states and innovative financing models,” he said.
The President expressed optimism that resolutions reached at the conference would boost agricultural diversification, including investments in dairy farming, livestock development and ranching.
