KEY POINTS

• Tinubu says insecurity keeps government leaders awake.
• Tinubu warns insecurity threatens economic reform goals.
• Tinubu pledges stronger action against terrorism.

President Bola Tinubu said Nigeria’s worsening security situation has weighed heavily on his administration, pledging renewed efforts to strengthen security operations and defeat terrorism and banditry across the country.

Speaking Monday in Abuja at the unveiling of the Renewed Hope Development Plan, Tinubu acknowledged that persistent violence remains one of the most serious obstacles to national development, describing insecurity as an issue that leaves leaders “sleepless at night.”

He said his government would intensify efforts to restore stability, stressing that progress on economic reforms depends on improved security conditions nationwide.

Tinubu warns insecurity undermines economic recovery

Tinubu said terrorism and banditry pose a direct threat to Nigeria’s economic ambitions, warning that continued violence could derail investment, productivity and growth targets under the Renewed Hope agenda.

“We will overcome this unacceptable terrorism and banditry,” he said, adding that such violence was alien to Nigeria’s values and traditions. Failure to address it promptly, he noted, would remain an economic setback.

The president assured Nigerians that his administration would not relent in tackling criminal activity, promising greater determination and resilience in security operations. He also praised several state governors for supporting federal efforts to stabilise affected regions.

Tinubu specifically commended Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Uba Sani of Kaduna State and Umaru Dikko Radda of Katsina State for their roles in strengthening security collaboration at the state level, saying their actions had helped defend lives, property and public order.

Tinubu response follows deadly Kwara attacks

The renewed pledge comes days after suspected bandits carried out coordinated attacks on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing more than 40 people, according to local accounts.

Residents said several homes were set ablaze during the assaults, leaving families displaced and mourning lost relatives. Security sources also said that the attackers were believed to have crossed into Kwara from neighbouring Niger State after moving through border communities.

According to the accounts, the assailants addressed residents during the attacks, urging them to abandon the Nigerian Constitution and adopt Islamic teachings. Disagreement by some community members reportedly triggered the violence, with the attackers opening fire on the gathering.

Tinubu finally said addressing such security threats remains central to the Renewed Hope Development Plan, which prioritises economic diversification, productivity and human capital development as pillars for long-term growth.