President Tinubu has vowed to rid North of banditry amid widespread bloodshed in the region.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu on Saturday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to crushing terrorists and bandits responsible for the escalating bloodshed across Northern Nigeria, declaring that no part of the country would be allowed to “bleed in silence.”
Speaking at the 25th Anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna, the President who was ably represented by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas said the security crisis his administration inherited was “deep, layered, and sophisticated,” but maintained that the government’s resolve to restore peace remained unwavering.
“No region of Nigeria will be abandoned to violence while this government looks away,” Tinubu said. “We will dismantle the banditry architecture, eliminate terrorist networks, and restore the safety that once defined this region.”
The President stressed that Nigeria’s economic advancement depended heavily on peace in the North, warning that the region was facing “one of the gravest tests in its history,” marked by a “corrosion of security, collapse of communal ethics, and distortion of the moral compass that once held communities together.”
Tinubu also pledged to reverse the prolonged economic stagnation in the North, noting that new oil exploration and imminent production from the Kolmani fields would usher in a new era of regional growth.
“The North is on the verge of a major economic turnaround,” he said. “The Kolmani oil project and other emerging energy prospects will play a vital role if we sustain the right policies.”
He highlighted several key infrastructure projects underway, including expanded road, rail and river transport systems. He added that the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano superhighway would be completed and commissioned in Kano “in the coming months.”
Tinubu praised the ACF for 25 years of “institutional resilience and moral clarity,” describing the forum as “a reservoir of patriots, thinkers, and negotiators who have defended the dignity of millions across Northern Nigeria.”
He emphasized that he attended the celebration “not as a son of the North but as a son of the Nigerian federation,” noting that national unity imposes moral responsibility on leaders. “Privilege comes with accountability,” he warned. “The North has not failed, but it can fail the day its leaders retreat from their duty to be their brothers’ keepers.”
The President acknowledged that decades of dysfunction had weakened communal bonds but insisted that hope remained. “Rebuilding trust across communities is fundamental. Without social harmony, insecurity will persist, economic stagnation will deepen, and educational deficits will widen.”
He described the proposed ACF Endowment Fund as “bold and visionary,” noting its focus on girl-child education, youth skills development, and peacebuilding aligns with national priorities.
Also speaking, Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, expressed confidence that Northern Nigeria could overcome its security challenges through unity and coordinated action.
“The North has the capacity to defeat insecurity,” he said. “What we need is political will and collaboration. The successes recorded in other parts of Nigeria can be replicated here.”
Barau praised the ACF’s founding fathers for their foresight and resilience, dismissing recent reports that portrayed the region in a negative light.
He urged Northern governors to leverage increased federal allocations and work with the National Assembly to fund security interventions, assuring that the President was ready to “intervene decisively” where needed.
Barau also encouraged the ACF to strengthen dialogue mechanisms, stressing that inclusive conversations were essential for sustainable solutions.
“With unity, strategic action, and proper use of resources, Northern Nigeria will overcome insecurity and reclaim its place as a stable and productive region,” he said.