President Bola Tinubu has issued a strong warning to terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and their sponsors, declaring that they must either surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state.
The President delivered the warning on Friday during his national broadcast marking Nigeria’s 27th consecutive Democracy Day celebration, his fourth Democracy Day address since assuming office in 2023.
Tinubu said his administration had intensified military operations against criminal and terrorist networks across the country, resulting in significant gains in the fight against insecurity.
“To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State,” the President declared.
“These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.”
According to Tinubu, the government has shifted from largely training security personnel with international partners to carrying out intelligence-driven and precision military operations.
“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,” he said.
The President disclosed that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the past year, while terror-related deaths across the country had fallen by 81 per cent since 2015.
Despite the military successes, Tinubu said the government remains committed to offering rehabilitation opportunities to insurgents willing to abandon violence.
He revealed that more than 124,000 fighters and their dependents have surrendered since 2023 through the Operation Safe Corridor programme.
“Over 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor,” he stated.
The President explained that the government’s dual-track approach combines sustained military pressure with reintegration programmes aimed at promoting lasting peace and stability.
Tinubu noted that the Federal Government has allocated N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget, the highest security allocation in the country’s history.
According to him, the funding demonstrates the administration’s determination to end terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other security threats.
He also disclosed that more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits have been approved for recruitment to strengthen the country’s security architecture and address manpower shortages.
While celebrating the progress of Nigeria’s democracy, Tinubu acknowledged that this year’s Democracy Day was overshadowed by the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo and Borno states.
“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,” he said.
The President called on Nigerians to remain united against criminality and avoid attributing insecurity to ethnic or religious groups.
“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,” he stated.
“We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.”
Beyond security, Tinubu addressed ongoing reforms in the power sector, describing electricity supply as one of the major challenges inherited by his administration in 2023.
He said the sector was plagued by inadequate generation, unreliable gas supply, weak transmission infrastructure, huge distribution losses, and a metering deficit exceeding four million households.
To address these challenges, the President highlighted key reforms, including the signing of the Electricity Act, which grants states authority to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity.
He also disclosed that the Presidential Power Sector Task Force has been authorised to raise a N4 trillion bond to settle verified legacy debts in the sector.
According to Tinubu, the Rural Electrification Agency, with support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, has expanded off-grid and mini-grid electricity projects to underserved communities, markets, universities, and healthcare facilities.
“Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian. We intend to deliver it,” he said.
On the economy, the President said government revenues have improved, fiscal transparency has increased, and investor confidence has returned across key sectors, including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining, transportation, and the creative industry.
He disclosed that non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent in the past year, while more than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises have been certified for export.
Tinubu also revealed that the National Agricultural Development Fund is implementing a programme to deploy 10,000 tractors over five years to boost food production and agricultural productivity.
Despite the progress, the President acknowledged that many Nigerians continue to face economic difficulties.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
