Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu on Monday declared that banditry and terrorism are completely alien to Nigeria’s cultural values and represent a serious obstacle to national economic progress, pledging that his administration will take resolute and unrelenting steps to eradicate the twin menaces.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the two-day National Economic Council (NEC) conference held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, the President emphasized that insecurity remains a top priority keeping his government awake at night. He assured Nigerians of victory through sustained determination, resilience, and the strengthening of the country’s security architecture.
“To further find means to strengthen our security forces to defeat terrorism and combat banditry,” Tinubu stated. “That, I promise you, is what has kept all of us sleepless at night, but I assure you that we will win with determination and resilience.”
The President described the persistent violence as unacceptable and foreign to Nigeria’s way of life. “This banditry and terrorism are unacceptable. It is not part of our culture. It is foreign to us. It is an economic hindrance if we do not find an immediate solution,” he declared.
Tinubu’s remarks came against the backdrop of fresh violent incidents across the country. In the days leading up to the conference, deadly attacks were reported in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where scores of residents were killed and many displaced in coordinated assaults on communities. Similar attacks were also recorded in parts of Katsina State on the same day, highlighting the continued threat posed by armed groups operating in rural and semi-urban areas.
At the NEC gathering, the President commended state governors for their frontline efforts in addressing insecurity. He specifically praised the governors of Borno and Katsina states for their dedication and proactive measures in combating insurgency and banditry in their regions.
The President also tied ongoing security challenges to the need for structural reforms in livestock management. He urged the NEC to adopt concrete resolutions on ranching and livestock investment as sustainable, long-term solutions to recurring farmer-herder conflicts that have often escalated into widespread violence.
President Tinubu arrived at the conference venue at 12:12 p.m. on Monday and formally declared open the second edition of the NEC conference. The event is being presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima and convened by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu.
Held under the theme “Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development: The Renewed Hope National Development Plan”, the two-day conference (February 9–10, 2026) is focusing on critical macroeconomic priorities. These include fiscal coordination between federal and state governments, investment mobilisation, enhanced public-private partnerships, and deeper collaboration to accelerate implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Participants include state governors, senior federal government officials, representatives of development partners, private-sector leaders, and key economic stakeholders. The gathering is expected to produce actionable resolutions that will guide policy direction and resource allocation in the months ahead.
The NEC conference serves as a major platform for aligning federal and state priorities, particularly in the areas of economic recovery, infrastructure development, security, and human capital investment. President Tinubu’s strong emphasis on security at the opening session underscored the administration’s view that sustained economic growth and inclusive development cannot be achieved without decisively addressing the insecurity plaguing many parts of the country.
The President’s pledge to defeat terrorism and banditry aligns with ongoing military operations, community engagement initiatives, and reforms aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s security apparatus. His administration has repeatedly stressed that peace and stability are prerequisites for attracting investment, boosting agriculture, and achieving the broader goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
As the NEC conference continues on Tuesday, attention will remain on how federal and state leaders translate the President’s commitments into coordinated strategies that deliver tangible improvements in security and economic performance across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
