President Bola Tinubu has declared a final onslaught against terrorist and bandit groups tormenting northern Nigeria, vowing that no region would be left to bleed while his government stands by.
The president’s strong declaration came during the 25th anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna, where he addressed northern leaders amid growing security concerns across the region.
Represented by House of Representatives Speaker Tajuddeen Abbas, President Tinubu described the security crisis inherited by his administration as daunting but insisted his resolve to end the menace remains firm and urgent.
“The North is facing one of the gravest tests in its history, a corrosion of security, a collapse of communal ethics and a distortion of the moral compass that once held its communities together,” he told the gathering of northern leaders and stakeholders.
The president warned that Nigeria cannot prosper when a key part of its national body remains paralysed, stressing that the North’s stability is essential to the peace and progress of the entire federation.
He praised the ACF for serving as the conscience of the region for 25 years, describing the forum as a reservoir of patriots, thinkers, moral leaders and negotiators who have defended the dignity and interests of millions across the North.
Beyond security matters, President Tinubu pledged to reverse the long-running economic decline of the North, expressing optimism that the region stands on the verge of a major turnaround with the anticipated rollout of crude oil from the Kolmani fields and other emerging oil prospects across the region.
He listed key interventions under his administration, including accelerated road, rail and river transport projects, with the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Superhighway expected to be completed and commissioned in the coming months.
Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, who chaired the occasion, delivered a stern warning about the region’s security situation. Represented by former Vice-President Mohammed Sambo, General Gowon described unity and peace as “the very oxygen required for development and collective dignity.” He warned that “without unity we fracture, without peace we stagnate,” noting that extremists continue to exploit divisions within northern communities.
ACF Board of Trustees Chairman Bashir Dalhatu echoed these concerns, stating that the forum emerged in 2000 to provide moral leadership as the North faced rising pressures – pressures that today have grown “even more frightening.”
He cited repeated attacks, abductions and the killing of a senior military officer as proof that too many communities remain exposed to violent threats. “Government must find a way to end the violence rapidly. The consequences of failure, God forbid, are too frightening to contemplate,” Mr Dalhatu stressed.
He particularly lamented the closure of hundreds of boarding schools due to insecurity, calling it “a painful reflection of a region under siege and a generation at risk.”
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin affirmed that President Tinubu has remained unwavering in his support for the interests and development of Northern Nigeria, saying the region has never taken any request to him without receiving “prompt attention and concrete action.”
He urged northern leaders to unite and take full advantage of increased revenues now accruing to federal and state governments, noting that the National Assembly stands ready to support initiatives that can strengthen security and promote development across the region.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, represented by Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe, reaffirmed Kaduna’s commitment to sustaining peace, inclusion and rural transformation as non-negotiable pillars of development.
He described Kaduna as the “historic centre of Northern identity,” adding that hosting the ACF headquarters represents both an honour and a solemn responsibility to shape the region’s future.
President Tinubu concluded by calling on the ACF to continue acting as the moral compass of the region, asserting that the North has the capacity to reclaim its stability, rebuild its economy and remain a central pillar of Nigeria’s collective progress.
He warned that unity remains the North’s strongest asset, stating that without it, “security initiatives will sputter, economic opportunities will slip away and the region’s political influence will diminish.” But with unity, the president asserted, “there is no challenge the region cannot overcome.”
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