President Bola Tinubu has restated his administration’s resolve to end terrorism and banditry in northern Nigeria, declaring that no part of the country will be allowed “to bleed while the federal government watches.”
The president’s message was delivered on Saturday in Kaduna during the 25th anniversary celebration of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), where he was represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Tinubu acknowledged that he inherited a “daunting” security landscape but said his government remains committed to restoring safety and reviving economic prospects across the region. He pointed to the planned exploitation of crude oil from the Kolmani fields and other emerging investments as key opportunities to reverse years of economic decline.
“The north is facing one of the gravest tests in its history,” Tinubu said, describing the crisis as “a corrosion of security, a collapse of communal ethics and a distortion of the moral compass that once held its communities together.”
He warned that Nigeria cannot achieve nationwide prosperity while a major region remains “paralysed,” adding that the stability of the north is central to national peace and development.
The president praised the ACF as “a reservoir of patriots, thinkers, moral leaders and negotiators” whose founders envisioned periods of national difficulty and built an institution capable of defending the region’s interests.
Tinubu urged northern leaders to embrace selflessness and accountability, insisting that leadership failure begins “the day leaders sleep comfortably while millions sleep hungry or move in fear across short distances.”
Despite decades of challenges, the president expressed optimism, saying the diverse ethnic and religious representation at the ACF anniversary reflects the region’s determination to rebuild unity and restore hope.
