President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s resolve to defeat banditry and terrorism, assuring Nigerians that security forces are intensifying efforts to restore peace and stability across the country.
The President gave the assurance on Wednesday night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving leaders of the Ogbia community of Bayelsa State.
He said, despite the numerous security challenges confronting parts of the country, the Federal Government was not relenting in its push against violent groups.
His remarks come amid persistent insecurity in the North-West, North-East and North-Central, where insurgency, banditry, kidnappings and attacks on rural communities have continued, even as the government maintains that security operations are yielding results through arrests and the disruption of criminal networks.
Addressing the delegation, Tinubu acknowledged the scale of the challenge but stressed that troops were making progress against terrorists and bandits.
“We cannot excuse the neglect of the past, but living in the past do us no good except take it and run with it. Now, part of Nigeria is challenged by terrorism and banditry, and the challenges are numerous,” he said.
The President added that while incidents often attract public attention, the armed forces were recording steady successes on the ground.
“You know, a little accident makes a bigger noise in terrorism or banditry, no matter how long success is being achieved. We are prosecuting them. We are arresting them. We are neutralising some of them who continue to do that,” Tinubu said.
Armed Forces Fighting Hard, We Will
Tinubu further assured that the military and other security agencies were working tirelessly to bring lasting peace, expressing confidence that victory was inevitable.
“Men and women of armed forces are fighting very hard to bring peace and stability to the country, and I can guarantee you we win,” he said, adding, “That’s all I can promise at this stage.”
Niger Delta Development Commitments
Beyond security, the President pledged that his administration would sustain development efforts in the Niger Delta, noting that the region would not be abandoned despite past failures by successive governments.
He praised the Niger Delta Development Commission, particularly its Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, for what he described as improved performance and visible impact.
“It’s a joy to listen to the good history of our discovery. Unfortunately, we have not done well in the past to cater for the goose that lays the golden egg, the Niger Delta,” Tinubu said.
“But fortunately, recently, God had given us the opportunity. We will continue with that, and we won’t let you down.”
According to him, the focus of his government was on “progress, determination and constructive engagement” with oil-producing communities and the nation at large.
Tinubu cited interventions such as solar-powered street lighting, saying they were already improving community life and economic activity in areas that previously shut down early due to darkness and poor infrastructure.
Responding to requests from the Ogbia delegation, the President promised to look into ecological challenges, particularly erosion, and to consider infrastructure proposals, including the construction of a bridge he described as critical to economic growth.
“What can I promise you? You mentioned the erosion. We will look into that. We will take it,” he said.
“You didn’t ask for too much on the bridge; that is an infrastructure that elicits the economy and progress and development of the area, we’ll see to that… and other areas of collaboration, education.”
The President also appealed for cooperation from the National Assembly, saying lawmakers had a role to play in sustaining economic recovery and speeding up project delivery.
He said while the economy had passed through a difficult phase, the task ahead was to ensure that improvements translate into real relief for ordinary Nigerians.
“When we took over, the economy of this country was in a very difficult situation. But I can tell you today that we are out of the tunnel of depression and economic disaster, and the economy has turned the corner for good,” Tinubu said.
“It is left for us to ensure that the ordinary people at the bottom of the ladder… feel the benefit of this economy, working on that, and Dr Ogbuku has been very instrumental to that.”
Meanwhile, leaders of the Ogbia community pledged political support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, praising his appointment of Ogbuku as Managing Director of the NDDC.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Robert Enogha said the visit was primarily to appreciate the President for what he described as visible changes in the Niger Delta since Ogbuku’s appointment.
“And so the Ogbia Kingdom only came to thank Mr President in one breath, to say, ‘we are behind you.’ We are renewing your mandate, to say, Mr President, come 2027, we are with you,” he said.
Enogha also disclosed that the delegation invited Tinubu to the community for what he described as an “initiation,” a major socio-cultural institution.
“In fact, we had even used the opportunity to invite the President himself, so that he would come for what we call initiation. It’s one of the foremost social, cultural groups, organisations in the country. And once we speak, we speak in one voice. There is no division,” he said.