Tinubu: My administration will crush terrorists, bandits, restore peace in North

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated his government’s unwavering commitment to eliminating terrorists and bandits in Northern Nigeria, insisting that no part of the country will be abandoned to violence.

Tinubu said although the security challenges inherited by his administration were complex and deeply rooted, his resolve to end the crisis is firm and urgent.

He also pledged to revive the North’s economy, expressing confidence that the region is on the brink of significant transformation with the expected commencement of crude oil production from the Kolmani fields and other emerging oil projects.

Speaking in Kaduna at the 25th Anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Tinubu—represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas—said the North is experiencing one of the most difficult periods in its history, marked by insecurity, erosion of communal values and the weakening of the ethical foundations that once held its communities together.

He warned that Nigeria cannot make meaningful progress if a critical part of its “national body is paralysed,” stressing that peace in the North is essential to the country’s stability and development.

The President hailed the ACF for 25 years of service as the moral voice of the region, describing it as a forum of patriots, thinkers and negotiators who have defended the interests of millions across Northern states.

He said the ACF’s founding fathers built the institution to withstand moments of national strain and articulate the aspirations of the region.

Tinubu told the gathering that he attended the event “as a son of the Nigerian federation,” bound by duty to all regions.

He urged leaders to embrace selflessness, noting that leadership carries moral responsibility and accountability.

He insisted that the North has not failed but risks failure if leaders abandon their duty to protect and uplift their communities.

According to him, decline begins when leaders “sleep comfortably while millions sleep hungry or travel in fear.”

Despite decades of division and distrust, Tinubu said hope remains alive.

The diverse cultural and religious representation at the ACF anniversary, he noted, shows the region’s readiness to rebuild unity and heal fractured relationships.

The President emphasised that restoring trust among communities is critical, as insecurity, economic stagnation and widening educational gaps will persist without social cohesion.

Highlighting his administration’s interventions, Tinubu mentioned accelerated road, rail and water transport projects across the North—including the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Superhighway, which he said would be completed and commissioned in Kano soon.

He described the proposed ACF Endowment Fund as a visionary project targeting girl-child education, youth empowerment, peacebuilding and conflict resolution—areas he said are vital to the region’s development.

Tinubu called on Northern leaders in government, traditional institutions and civil society to recommit to the ideals that inspired the ACF’s founding: courage, justice, fairness and collective responsibility.

He warned that unity remains the region’s greatest strength. Without it, he said, security efforts will falter, economic prospects will diminish and political influence will wane.

“But with unity, “there is no challenge the North cannot overcome.”

Tinubu urged the ACF to continue serving as the moral compass of the region, expressing confidence that the North can reclaim stability, rebuild its economy and remain a central pillar of Nigeria’s national progress.