President Bola Tinubu has pledged to show no tolerance for terrorists who facilitate the murder and abduction of innocent Nigerians. Additionally, he revealed that his administration had already neutralized over 13,000 terrorists in the last year alone and issued an ultimatum to bandits, kidnappers, and supporters of terrorism to surrender or face the full might of the Nigerian state.
In his nationwide speech on the occasion of the nation's 27th successive Democracy Day celebration—his fourth as president since 2023—Tinubu issued the warning.
He said that despite an 81% decrease in terror-related deaths since 2015, the ongoing captivity of pupils kidnapped in the states of Oyo and Borno dampened Friday's Democracy Day celebration.
"To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State," he proclaimed.
"These windows of surrender won't last forever. Those who deal in Nigerian blood shall not receive any mercy.
The Nigerian leader said that his administration has advanced to precision operations on the ground after training with partners.
"Precision aiming has replaced training with our partners, the United States, France, and other European nations.
We weakened ISWAP's command center in Arege, Borno State.
Since 2015, the number of terror-related deaths has decreased by 81%.
"In the last year, over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralized," he said.
The door of rehabilitation remained open alongside the door of force, Tinubu said, notwithstanding the neutralization of terrorists.
"Since 2023, Operation Safe Corridor has resulted in the deaths of over 124,000 fighters and their dependents," he stated.
According to Tinubu, the 2026 budget's N5.41 trillion security provision is a declaration of the country's will to put an end to the present terrorist wave that has been raging since 2009.
In addition to the budget, he disclosed that his administration had authorized the hiring of thousands of military recruits and over 50,000 new police officers in order to close the ongoing gap between the number of security personnel and the security needs of over 230 million Nigerians.
Tinubu admitted that, despite the nation's celebration of 27 years of stable democracy, the ongoing hostage situation involving schoolchildren and teachers abducted in the states of Oyo and Borno, which has already reached its fourth week, dampened this year's joyous Democracy Day.
"The kidnapping of our children in Oyo and Borno has dampened the mood this year, but we are still optimistic about their safe return." Without security, democracy is a pipe dream.
For this reason, this administration authorized the recruitment of thousands of military recruits and over 50,000 police officers, in addition to declaring a security emergency.
"Our largest-ever budget, N5.41 trillion, is allocated to defense and security in 2026. He declared, "Our administration is always prepared to do much more to secure our people."
He urged Nigerians to reject the ethnic or religious framing of criminality and called for national unity in the face of the security problem.
"Let's not point fingers or assign blame at this time. Ethnicity has no bearing on crime.
"We must unite and have faith that our country's adversaries will soon be history."
He proclaimed, "We will overcome terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation."
The President described the scope of the problem he inherited and his current solution to the three-year intermittent electricity crisis.
By 2023, he claimed, the industry was "characterized by chronic generation shortfalls, an unreliable gas supply, and transmission infrastructure so fragile that it couldn't evacuate available power."
Massive losses and a metering shortfall of more than $4 million plagued distribution businesses.
As a result, he continued, "the sector generated less than the 13,500 megawatts installed capacity, transmitted less than it generated, distributed less than it transmitted, and collected revenue far below what it needed to sustain itself."
In response, Tinubu said, he signed the Electricity Act, which gave states the power to produce, transmit, and distribute electricity; authorized the Presidential Power Sector Task Force to raise an N4 trillion bond to settle verified legacy debts; and instructed the Rural Electrification Agency, which is backed by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, to provide off-grid and mini-grid power to underserved communities, hospitals, universities, and markets.
"I signed the Electricity Act, which grants states authority to generate, transmit, and distribute power, to address the problems besetting the sector," he clarified.
"The Presidential Power Sector Task Force is putting a lot of effort into lowering the metering gap. In order to pay off verified legacy obligations, it has also been authorized to raise N4 trillion.
With funding from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, the Rural Electrification Agency has provided off-grid and mini-grid electricity to hospitals, marketplaces, universities, and underprivileged communities.
"Every Nigerian is entitled to electricity as a democratic dividend. We plan to deliver it.
Regarding the overall economy, Tinubu claimed that increased federal income had given states and local governments more funding.
In the fields of agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining, transportation, and the creative industries, investor confidence had returned, and budgetary transparency had increased.
He reported that over 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses had received export certification, non-oil exports increased by 21% last year, and the National Agricultural Development Fund was distributing 10,000 tractors over a five-year period.
He did concede that difficulties still exist, though.
However, a lot of Nigerians continue to struggle financially. We continue to prioritize lowering inflation, increasing food production, generating employment, raising living standards, boosting economic confidence, and establishing the framework for long-term success.
"Uncertainty is giving way to steadiness. Accelerating expansion and making sure the advantages are felt in every house, neighborhood, and area are the goals of the next stage.
"We think that democracy needs to be felt on the ground," he said.