President Bola Tinubu on Friday vowed that terror financiers, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements threatening Nigeria’s security would face tougher action, warning that the government would show no mercy to those responsible for violence across the country.
Speaking in a national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 27th consecutive Democracy Day celebration and his fourth as President since 2023, Tinubu said the government had intensified security operations and recorded major gains against insurgents.
The President said: “To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State.
“These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.”
Tinubu said the country had moved beyond training exercises with international partners to carrying out targeted operations against terrorist groups.
He said: “We have moved from training with our allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targeting.
“In Arege, Borno State, we degraded ISWAP’s command centre. Terror-related deaths are down by 81 per cent since 2015.
“Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year.”
According to him, the government remains open to rehabilitation efforts for repentant fighters even as military operations continue against violent groups.
“Over 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor,” he said.
The President said the Federal Government had committed N5.41tn to defence and security in the 2026 budget and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers alongside thousands of military recruits to strengthen national security.
Tinubu, however, noted that this year’s Democracy Day celebration was overshadowed by the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo and Borno states.
He said: “Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return. Democracy without security is a mirage.
“That is why this administration declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits.
“Our 2026 budget commits N5.41tn, our largest ever, to defence and security. Our administration is ever ready to do much more to secure our people.”
Calling for unity, Tinubu urged Nigerians not to view criminality through ethnic or religious lenses.
He said: “At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity.
“We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history.
“We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.”
Beyond security, the President addressed challenges in the power sector, saying his administration inherited a system plagued by generation shortfalls, unreliable gas supply, weak transmission infrastructure and a metering deficit exceeding four million customers.
He said: “To address the problems besetting the sector, I signed the Electricity Act, which grants states authority to generate, transmit, and distribute power.
“The Presidential Power Sector Task Force is working hard to reduce the metering deficit. It has also been authorised to raise N4tn bond to settle verified legacy debts.
“The Rural Electrification Agency, supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, has deployed off-grid and mini-grid power to underserved communities, universities, markets, and hospitals.
“Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian. We intend to deliver it.”
On the economy, Tinubu said federation revenues had improved, investor confidence was returning and non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent last year. He added that more than 1,000 small and medium enterprises had been certified for export, while the National Agricultural Development Fund was rolling out 10,000 tractors over five years.
Despite the reported gains, the President acknowledged the economic difficulties facing many Nigerians.
He said: “Yet, many Nigerians still face economic hardship. We remain focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, improving living standards, rebuilding confidence in our economy, and creating conditions for sustainable prosperity.
“We are moving from uncertainty to stability.
“The next phase is about accelerating growth and ensuring the benefits are felt in every home, every community, and every region.
“We believe that Democracy must be felt in the pocket.”
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