President Bola Tinubu has bemoaned the recent spate of insecurity in the north but vowed that his administration is determined to end terrorism and banditry in the country.
Kebbi, Kwara and Niger States witnessed killings and abductions last week, underlining the already growing pressure from foreign partners over insecurity in Nigeria.
However, Tinubu said no part of the country would be allowed “to bleed while the federal government watches”.
The president’s remarks were relayed on Saturday at the 25th anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna.
The nation’s Commander-in-Chief was represented at the event by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives.
Tinubu said he inherited a “daunting” security situation but remains committed to restoring safety.
He said his administration would reverse the prolonged economic decline of the region. He cited the anticipated rollout of crude oil from the Kolmani fields and other emerging prospects as opportunities for economic renewal.
“The north is facing one of the gravest tests in its history,” Tinubu said.
He described the current situation as “a corrosion of security, a collapse of communal ethics and a distortion of the moral compass that once held its communities together”.
The president said Nigeria would not prosper while a major region remains “paralysed”.
He added that the stability of the north is essential to national peace and development.
Tinubu described the ACF as “a reservoir of patriots, thinkers, moral leaders and negotiators” who have defended the dignity and interests of millions.
He said the forum’s founders anticipated moments of national strain and built an institution strong enough to articulate the region’s aspirations.
Tinubu called on northern leaders to uphold selflessness and accountability.
He said failure begins “the day leaders sleep comfortably while millions sleep hungry or move in fear across short distances”.
The president reiterated that hope is not lost despite decades of dysfunction, adding that the ethnic and religious diversity at the ACF anniversary signalled the region’s readiness to rebuild unity.
He said with unity, “there is no challenge the region cannot overcome”.
Tinubu urged the ACF to continue to serve as the region’s moral compass.
He expressed confidence that the north would reclaim stability, revive its economy and remain a central pillar of Nigeria’s progress.
There has been an uptick in mass abductions and gunmen killings in swathes of Nigeria’s northern region.
