President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made this declaration on Monday while declaring open the Second National Economic Council (NEC) Conference at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. The two-day conference is themed “Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable National Development,The Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026–2030.”
The President has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to defeat terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, describing the security challenges as “unacceptable” and completely alien to the nation’s values and culture.
Addressing state governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly, development partners and private sector leaders, Tinubu assured Nigerians that his government remains fully committed to strengthening the nation’s security architecture and restoring peace in communities affected by violent crimes.
“I promise you here that I’ll play my part. Seven zones of mechanisation are coming. I promise Nigerians that this will be delivered, and I am here again to further find ways to strengthen our security forces and defeat terrorism,” the President said.
He noted that the fight against insecurity has been a major concern of his administration, stressing that Nigeria would prevail through determination and resilience.
“That, I promise you, is what has kept all of us sleepless at night, but I assure you we will win with determination and resilience. We will overcome this unacceptable terrorism and banditry. It’s not part of our culture. It’s foreign to us,” Tinubu declared.
The President described insecurity as a major impediment to economic growth, calling for collective efforts at all levels of government to find immediate and lasting solutions.
He commended the governors of Borno, Katsina and Kaduna states, among others, for what he described as their sacrifices in defending the nation’s freedom and stability.
Tinubu also used the occasion to highlight the achievements of his administration, particularly in economic reforms. He said the reforms implemented since the beginning of his tenure have helped stabilise the economy and restore investor confidence.
“I must say again at this juncture, the monetary policy that we have embarked on since the reforms has yielded positive results and gained recognition around the world,” he said.
He specifically praised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), under Governor Yemi Cardoso, for restoring confidence in Nigeria’s monetary policy framework. According to him, state and local governments now enjoy increased and more predictable federal allocations, enabling them to pay salaries promptly, invest in infrastructure and deliver essential social services.
The President noted that his administration has prioritised infrastructure development across critical sectors such as transportation, power, digital connectivity, housing and irrigation.
He also highlighted the expansion of social investment and human capital programmes targeted at vulnerable households, youths, women and small businesses.
Tinubu further pointed to the Renewed Hope Ward Development Project as evidence of his government’s commitment to grassroots inclusion through a bottom-up approach to national development.
“These successes reflect strong collaboration among the federal and state governments, development partners and the private sector,” he said.
On the Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026–2030, the President explained that the plan represents the next phase of Nigeria’s development journey, anchored on inclusive, resilient and environmentally sustainable growth.
He said the plan prioritises economic diversification and productivity, human capital development, subnational competitiveness based on comparative advantage, private sector-led growth and climate resilience.
Tinubu stressed that the success of the plan would depend largely on effective implementation at the state and local government levels, making NEC a critical platform for aligning national priorities with subnational realities.
“This Conference has reinforced collaboration, shared accountability and a focus on practical solutions and measurable outcomes,” the President said,
urging participants to move from policy declarations to concrete implementation through data-driven decisions, peer learning and innovative financing models.
Despite acknowledging the challenges ahead, Tinubu expressed optimism that the outcomes of the conference would help advance agricultural diversification, including dairy farming, livestock investment and ranching.
“The task before us is challenging, but the opportunity before us is historic,” he concluded.