Tinubu Urges Nigerians to Keep Faith Amid Criticism and Security Gains
President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the nation, even as he welcomes criticism and disagreement from citizens.
He warned that democracy falters when people doubt the process, describing the National Assembly, judiciary, press, and civil society as the guardrails that protect Nigeria’s democratic system.
“Criticise me, disagree with me, but never stop believing in the nation.”
Addressing the youth, he said Nigeria is their home and future, urging them to build, work, and invest locally rather than abandon the country. He also thanked the armed forces, police, intelligence services, traditional rulers, faith leaders, and community heads for their roles in maintaining peace and reconciliation.
Turning to security, Tinubu warned bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terrorism to surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state. He noted that the country has moved from joint training with allies such as the United States, France, and other European nations to precision targeting of terrorist positions.
In Arege, Borno State, Nigerian forces degraded an ISWAP command centre. Terror‑related deaths have fallen by 81 % since 2015, and more than 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year.
The President disclosed that over 124,000 fighters and their dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor. He reiterated that the surrender window remains open but will not stay open indefinitely, warning that no mercy will be shown to those who profit from the blood of Nigerians.
Finally, Tinubu called for national unity, urging Nigerians not to assign blame to any ethnic group for criminal acts. “Crime has no ethnicity,” he said, expressing confidence that the nation’s enemies will soon be defeated and that a more prosperous Nigeria will emerge.
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