With a pledge that sounded both defiant and urgent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday declared that terrorism and banditry would be defeated.
He insisted that the violence afflicting parts of the country is “unacceptable” and fundamentally alien to Nigeria’s values.
From the same podium, the President issued an equally firm charge to governors and local government leaders: the success of Nigeria’s next development phase will depend less on Abuja’s proclamations and more on decisive action at the grassroots.
The President spoke while declaring open the Second National Economic Council (NEC) Conference at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
It was a gathering that brought together governors, ministers, development partners and private sector leaders to align strategies around the Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026-2030.
Addressing security first, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration remains resolute in strengthening the nation’s security architecture and restoring peace to communities scarred by insurgency, banditry and violent crime.
He said: “I promise you here that I’ll play my part. Seven zones of mechanisation are coming.
“I promise Nigerians that this will be delivered, and I am here again to further find ways to strengthen our security forces and defeat terrorism.”
Describing insecurity as both a moral outrage and an economic chokehold, President Tinubu said the persistence of violence undermines investment, disrupts livelihoods and stalls development.
He stressed that ending terrorism and banditry was therefore not only a security imperative but also a prerequisite for economic recovery and growth.
“That, I promise you, is what has kept all of us sleepless at night. But I assure you, we will win with determination and resilience.
“We will overcome this unacceptable terrorism and banditry. It’s not part of our culture. It’s foreign to us,” he declared.
The President paid special tribute to governors in frontline states, including Borno, Katsina and Kaduna, commending them and others for what he described as extraordinary efforts to defend “our freedom, liberty and our commonwealth” in the face of relentless security challenges.
Pivoting to the economy, President Tinubu said the Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026-2030 represents the next chapter in Nigeria’s national journey, a phase that demands deeper coordination between the federal and subnational governments.
While the Federal Government would continue to provide national direction, he said the real outcomes Nigerians expect – jobs, infrastructure, social services and improved living standards – will be delivered largely through effective implementation by states and local government councils.
President Tinubu said: “The theme of this conference, ‘Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable National Development: The Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026–2030,’ reflects our resolve to move from recovery to transformation, and from narrow growth to inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.”
He described NEC as a critical platform for strategic dialogue, policy coordination and collective action across Nigeria’s federal system, commending the Council under the leadership of Vice President Kashim Shettima for sustaining the annual conference.
According to the President, Nigeria stands at a defining crossroads, grappling with inherited structural challenges such as macroeconomic imbalances, infrastructure deficits, unemployment, poverty, climate vulnerabilities and limited fiscal space.
Despite these pressures, he said the country’s resilience and creativity remain intact.
President Tinubu said his administration has implemented bold reforms since its inception to stabilise the economy, restore confidence and lay the foundation for long-term growth.
Among the gains recorded, he listed increased and more predictable Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) inflows to states and local governments, which he said have strengthened their capacity to pay salaries, invest in infrastructure and deliver essential services.
He also cited improved revenue performance, stronger public financial management and enhanced fiscal coordination as key elements of efforts to stabilise the macroeconomy.
Infrastructure development, President Tinubu said, remains a priority across transportation, power, digital connectivity, housing and irrigation, describing these sectors as catalysts for inclusive growth.
He added that social investment and human capital programmes targeting vulnerable households, youth, women and small businesses have also been expanded.
At the grassroots level, the President said the Renewed Hope Ward Development Project was designed to deepen inclusion through a bottom-up approach to national development.
On the substance of the Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026–2030, President Tinubu said it is evidence-based, realistic and anchored on inclusive, balanced and environmentally sustainable growth.
He explained that the plan prioritises economic diversification and productivity, human capital development, subnational competitiveness based on comparative advantage, private sector-led growth and climate resilience.
However, he warned that the plan’s success would ultimately be judged by how effectively states and local councils translate national priorities into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
“Nigeria’s diversity is our strength. When every state grows, Nigeria grows,” the President said, urging leaders to move from declarations to implementation through data-driven decision-making, peer learning among states and innovative financing models.
He expressed confidence that the resolutions reached at the conference would accelerate inclusive growth and sustainable national development before formally declaring the conference open.
