President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described insecurity in Northern Nigeria as his administration’s deepest concern, warning that the crisis threatens national progress and stability.
The President, represented by Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, made the declaration on Saturday during the 25th Anniversary (Silver Jubilee) celebration of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna State.
In an address titled ‘A Generation Summoned by a Crisis’, President Tinubu acknowledged inheriting multilayered security challenges but emphasized his administration’s commitment to addressing them with renewed urgency.
“Nothing troubles me more gravely than the security crisis bedevilling Nigeria, especially Northern Nigeria. Affliction in any part of the country is a setback for every part. We cannot prosper when one limb of the national body is paralysed,” the President stated.
He continued: “The layers and sophistication of the security challenges we inherited are daunting, but what should inspire confidence is the urgency with which my administration is pursuing solutions.”
Tinubu stressed that the current moment demands honest and courageous voices from northern leaders, acknowledging past missteps while rejecting defeatism.
“Yes, there have been missteps. Yes, there have been moments of drift. But we cannot say the North has failed unless we abandon our responsibility to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers,” he said.
The President painted a stark picture of the human cost of insecurity, stating: “We fail the day we sleep comfortably while millions sleep with empty bellies, the day fear becomes a permanent companion for travellers moving from one village to another.”
Despite the challenges, Tinubu expressed optimism about overcoming the crisis, citing the diverse gathering at the ACF event as evidence of collective resolve.
“But let no one believe that hope is lost. The dysfunction inherited over decades fractured bonds and strained unity. Yet the ethnic and religious diversity gathered here today is a declaration of the collective resolve to overcome polarisation and resist any agenda designed to divide,” he declared.
The President’s remarks come amid escalating security challenges across northern states, including the abduction of over 250 students and staff from St. Mary’s School in Niger State on Friday, and similar attacks in Kebbi and Kwara states that have forced widespread school closures.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party has criticized the administration’s response to the crisis, calling for Tinubu’s resignation and questioning the strategy of closing schools as a security measure. US President Donald Trump has also intensified criticism of Nigeria’s handling of violence against Christian communities, threatening to cut American aid.
President Tinubu’s admission that northern insecurity remains his primary concern signals a recognition of the gravity of the situation as his administration faces mounting pressure to deliver tangible security improvements across the region.
