Tinubu says the security situation in Nigeria, especially in the Northern region, is the most troubling challenge confronting the country and must be addressed with urgency.
He spoke in Kaduna on Saturday through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at the 25th Anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum and the launch of its Endowment Fund.
He said the government inherited complex security problems but was responding with what he called “urgency and determination.”
Tinubu said, “Nothing troubles me more gravely than the security crisis bedevilling Nigeria, especially Northern Nigeria. We cannot prosper when one limb of the national body is paralysed.”
He noted that insecurity must be tackled to halt further economic decline and educational setbacks across the region. He added that the government remained committed to eliminating terrorist and bandit groups operating in the North.
Tinubu expressed hope about the region’s future, saying he looked forward to the day crude oil tankers would roll out from Kolmani and other northern oil fields.
He said major infrastructure projects such as the Abuja Kaduna Kano Superhighway were being fast tracked for completion.
He urged leaders in the region to speak with sincerity and courage, warning that progress would be impossible if vulnerable communities continued to suffer.
“We fail the day we sleep comfortably while millions sleep with empty bellies, the day fear becomes a permanent companion for travellers,” he said.
Tinubu commended the Arewa Consultative Forum for its role in promoting unity and fairness over the past twenty five years, describing its silver jubilee as a celebration of dedication and principled service.
He called on leaders in all sectors to recommit to safeguarding the stability of the North, saying it remained vital to the peace and development of the country.
