President Bola Tinubu on Monday described banditry and terrorism as alien to Nigerian culture and a major economic hindrance requiring immediate solutions.
He vowed that his administration would strengthen security forces to defeat the menace.
Speaking at the opening of the two-day National Economic Council conference at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the President pledged to find means to crush the activities of bandits and terrorists, saying they had kept Nigerians sleepless.
“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 added, “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’s remarks come against the backdrop of deadly bandit attacks across multiple states, particularly the February 3 massacre in Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, where at least 162 residents were killed by suspected Islamic extremists.
The attackers reportedly targeted the communities after residents rejected their demand to adopt a hardline version of Sharia law.
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, described the attack as a “brutal and deliberate massacre” and genocide, with victims shot at close range, some burnt alive, and others having their throats slit.
At least 38 people, mostly women and children, were abducted, while over 50 were hospitalised.
The same day, bandits killed at least 20 people in Doma communities in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, following the collapse of a community-driven peace arrangement.
At the conference, Tinubu commended several state governors for their efforts in combating 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 the security challenges to his administration’s livestock reforms, insisting that the NEC conference must produce resolutions on ranching and livestock investment as a pathway to ending 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 you here, I will play my part. I promise Nigeria that this will be delivered,” Tinubu said.
His remarks followed 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 the December 10 Federal Executive Council meeting, Tinubu had tasked Shettima, who chairs the NEC, to sensitise governors and stakeholders on implementing ranching reforms, while directing the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, to identify villages and grazing areas for rehabilitation into modern ranches.
“We must eliminate these areas of conflict and make the livestock reform economically viable,” the President had said at the FEC meeting.
Following that directive, the NEC at its 155th meeting held on December 18, 2025, inaugurated a Livestock Development Committee chaired by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, with representatives from all six geopolitical zones, to fast-track nationwide ranching reforms.
The President arrived at the conference venue at 12:12 pm on Monday, after which he formally declared the second edition of the National Economic Council conference open.
Vice President Shettima is presiding over the conference, 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, scheduled for February 9 and 10, is expected to address pressing macroeconomic priorities, including fiscal coordination, investment mobilisation, and shared development strategies between 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 conference would focus on national economic issues aimed at encouraging economic growth and development across the country.
State governors, top government officials, development partners, and private-sector leaders are participating as the Federal Government works to deepen its reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
