President Bola Tinubu, while convening the nation’s top economic decision-makers, took a moment to applaud the frontline efforts of state governors in the fight against insecurity, specifically commending the Governors of Kaduna, Borno, and Katsina States for their resilience.
The President’s recognition came as he inaugurated the Second National Economic Council (NEC) Conference at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, a high-level forum comprising all 36 state governors, federal ministers, and key private sector leaders.
In his opening address, President Tinubu highlighted the critical role of state leadership in the national security architecture. He particularly commended the governors of Borno, Katsina, and Kaduna states—Professors Babagana Umara Zulum, Dikko Umaru Radda, and Senator Uba Sani, respectively—“for doing so much to defend our freedom, liberty and our commonwealth.”
This praise was embedded within a firm reassurance of his administration’s overarching security strategy. “I assure you we will win with determination and resilience. We will overcome this unacceptable terrorism and banditry,” President Tinubu declared, describing the security threats as alien to the nation’s core values. He pledged to strengthen security forces, promising, “I promise you here that I’ll play my part.”
The President framed the security challenge as a fundamental barrier to prosperity, calling it “an economic hindrance.” This set the stage for the conference’s primary focus: the “Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026–2030.”
Under the theme “Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable National Development,” President Tinubu outlined the administration’s economic progress, including stabilized monetary policy, increased federal allocations to states, and prioritized infrastructure spending. He emphasized that the new national development plan would prioritize economic diversification, human capital development, and private sector-led growth.
Crucially, the President stated that the plan’s success “will depend largely on effective implementation at the state and local government levels,” making the NEC and the commended governors central to its execution. He called for a decisive shift from planning to action, urging attendees to move “decisively from declarations to implementation.”
The two-day conference, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, is expected to yield resolutions aimed at advancing key sectors like agricultural diversification, dairy farming, and ranching—initiatives seen as complementary to long-term security and economic stability.
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