President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a nationwide security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 additional police officers, alongside thousands of military personnel, as part of efforts to combat rising insecurity across Nigeria.
The President made the declaration during his nationwide broadcast on Thursday to commemorate the 2026 Democracy Day celebration and mark 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in the country.
Addressing Nigerians, Tinubu expressed concern over the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states, noting that the incidents had cast a shadow over this year’s Democracy Day celebrations.
“Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return,” the President said.
Tinubu stressed that security remains a fundamental requirement for democratic governance and national development, insisting that no democracy can thrive in an atmosphere of fear and violence.
“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,” he stated.
The President also revealed that the Federal Government has allocated a record amount to the defence and security sector in the 2026 national budget.
According to him, the administration has earmarked ₦5.41 trillion for security-related spending, describing it as the highest allocation ever made to the sector.
“Our 2026 budget commits ₦5.41 trillion, our largest ever, to defence and security. Our administration is ever ready to do much more to secure our people,” Tinubu added.
The latest measures form part of the government’s broader strategy to tackle persistent challenges such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes threatening lives and property across the country.
