President Bola Tinubu has vowed that “no mercy will be shown” to those who finance or enable terrorism in Nigeria, issuing an ultimatum to bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror to surrender or face the full force of the state.
Delivering a national address to mark the country’s 27th consecutive Democracy Day — his fourth as president — Tinubu said his administration had “neutralised” more than 13,000 terrorists in the past year and that terror-related deaths have fallen by 81 per cent since 2015.
“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.”
Tinubu said security operations have moved from training with international partners to precision targeting on the ground. He cited an operation in Arege, Borno State, where he said the command centre of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) was degraded.
He also highlighted rehabilitation efforts, saying more than 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor, while reiterating that the door of force remains open where necessary.
The 2026 budget’s N5.41 trillion security allocation, Tinubu said, signals a national commitment to defeating the current wave of terrorism, which he said has raged since 2009. Beyond the budget, his administration has approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits to address the shortfall in personnel for a population of over 230 million.
The president acknowledged that this year’s Democracy Day was subdued by the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo and Borno states, now in their fourth week. “Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return,” he said. “Democracy without security is a mirage.”
On the power sector, Tinubu outlined steps taken since 2023 to tackle chronic generation shortfalls, unreliable gas supply and fragile transmission infrastructure. He said he signed the Electricity Act to give states authority to generate, transmit and distribute power; authorised a Presidential Power Sector Task Force to raise a N4 trillion bond to settle verified legacy debts; and directed the Rural Electrification Agency, with support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, to deploy off‑grid and mini‑grid solutions to underserved communities.
“Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian. We intend to deliver it,” he said, adding that the task force is also working to reduce a metering deficit that had burdened distribution companies.
On the economy, Tinubu said federation revenues have risen, fiscal transparency has improved and investor confidence is returning across sectors including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining, transportation and the creative industries. Non‑oil exports grew by 21 per cent last year, he said, and more than 1,000 small and medium enterprises have been certified for export. The National Agricultural Development Fund, he added, will deploy 10,000 tractors over five years.
He acknowledged persistent hardship for many Nigerians and pledged continued focus on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs and raising living standards. “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,” Tinubu said. “We believe that democracy must be felt in the pocket.”
