President Bola Tinubu on Monday described banditry and terrorism as alien to Nigeria’s culture and a major drag on the nation’s economy, pledging that his administration will intensify efforts to defeat the menace.
The President spoke at the opening of the two-day National Economic Council (NEC) conference at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, where he assured Nigerians that security forces would be further strengthened to tackle insecurity.
“To further find means to strengthen our security forces to defeat terrorism and combat banditry.
That, I promise you, is what has kept all of us sleepless at night, but I assure you that we will win with determination and resilience,” Tinubu said.
He stressed that banditry and terrorism are unacceptable and inconsistent with Nigeria’s values.
“This banditry and terrorism are unacceptable. It is not part of our culture. It is foreign to us.
So it is an economic hindrance if we do not find an immediate solution to it,” the President added.
Tinubu’s remarks come amid renewed bandit attacks across several states, including the February 3 attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where at least 162 people were reportedly killed by suspected Islamic extremists after residents rejected demands to adopt a hardline version of Sharia law.
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, described the incident as a “brutal and deliberate massacre,” with victims allegedly shot at close range, burnt alive or killed in other gruesome ways. At least 38 persons, mostly women and children, were abducted, while over 50 others were hospitalised.
On the same day, bandits reportedly killed no fewer than 20 people in Doma communities of Faskari Local Government Area, Katsina State, following the collapse of a community-based peace arrangement.
At the conference, President Tinubu commended several state governors for their efforts in addressing insecurity, singling out the governors of Borno and Katsina states.
“I commend many of you, particularly the governor of Borno State, Katsina, many of you who have done so much to defend our freedom, liberty and our commonwealth,” he said.
The President also linked insecurity to livestock management challenges, insisting that the NEC conference must reach concrete resolutions on ranching and livestock investment to address farmer-herder conflicts.
“I’m confident that the resolution of this conference will include dairy farming, livestock investment, ranches and diversification of our agricultural produce.
I promise Nigeria that this will be delivered,” Tinubu stated.
He recalled his December 10, 2025 directive to Vice President Kashim Shettima and the NEC to develop a roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s livestock industry through ranching. At a Federal Executive Council meeting on the same date, Tinubu tasked Shettima to sensitise governors and stakeholders, while directing the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, to identify villages and grazing areas for conversion into modern ranches.
Subsequently, at its 155th meeting on December 18, 2025, the NEC inaugurated a Livestock Development Committee chaired by Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, with representatives from the six geopolitical zones to accelerate nationwide ranching reforms.
President Tinubu arrived at the conference venue at 12:12 pm and formally declared the second edition of the NEC conference open. Vice President Shettima is presiding over the meeting, which was convened by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, under the theme “Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development: The Renewed Hope National Development Plan.”
The conference, holding from February 9 to 10, is expected to deliberate on key macroeconomic issues, including fiscal coordination, investment mobilisation and collaborative development strategies between the federal and state governments.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and Secretary of the NEC, Dr Deborah Odo, said the gathering would focus on national economic priorities aimed at driving growth and development.
State governors, senior government officials, development partners and private-sector leaders are attending as the Federal Government continues to push reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Elijah Adeyemi
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