President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared on Tuesday that his administration is making significant strides in restructuring the nation’s security apparatus, assuring that the tide will soon turn against terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings.
Receiving the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House, the President acknowledged the gravity of the security challenges but insisted that a combination of enhanced intelligence, institutional repositioning, and improved logistics for frontline troops is yielding results.
This was contained in statement issued and signed by Special Adviser to the President Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“Nigeria’s security architecture is being repositioned for greater efficiency,” Tinubu told the bishops, led by CBCN President, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, Archbishop of Kaduna. He called on the clerics to actively preach against violence and rally support for national efforts to end insurgency.
“We don’t have another country but here—this Nigeria,” Tinubu stated, referencing the national anthem. “In our complexity and diversity, we shall thrive. I have just approved the expansion of the armed forces. We are getting more equipment and building new barracks. This should be part of your sermons.”
President Tinubu said beyond security, the President offered a bullish assessment of the national economy, declaring that the “alarm for bankruptcy” that greeted his tenure has been silenced. He argued that the country has been placed on a sound footing, with the spirit of the people lifting and economic turmoil clearing.
“I inherited the assets and liabilities of my predecessor. This government has stabilised, and there is prosperity on the horizon. Life is improving,” Tinubu said.
He pointed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a key intervention aimed at pulling families out of poverty, and noted that the relative peace in the “university system—with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) currently not on strike—is a testament to progress.
“To educate our children, you can’t say a four-year course is not four years now. ASUU is not bringing agony to our homes. Is that not an answer to our prayers?” the President said.
On the long-standing demand by the CBCN for the return of mission schools, President Tinubu deferred to state governors, noting that the constitution grants them the authority to decide. He reminded the bishops of his own record as Lagos State governor, where he returned mission schools, citing Cardinal Okogie as a witness.
The President also addressed concerns over electoral integrity, insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains neutral. He dismissed opposition fears about the 2027 elections, suggesting they stem from “their own shadows and uncertainty in the companies they keep.”
In his remarks, Archbishop Ndagoso commended the President for the warm reception given to the Vatican’s delegation during the 50th anniversary of Nigeria-Vatican relations. However, he did not shy away from outlining the bishops’ concerns, which include insecurity, the crisis in tertiary education, poverty, and the need for credible polls.
The CBCN president specifically called for free and fair elections in 2027, urging Tinubu to cement his legacy by strengthening democratic institutions.
“As a man who risked so much in the struggle for the return of democratic rule, your greatest legacy would be the strengthening of our democratic institutions,” Ndagoso said.
The delegation featured a galaxy of church leaders, including Cardinals John Onaiyekan and Peter Okpaleke, alongside archbishops and bishops from across the country.
Others present: Most Rev. Alfred Martins (Lagos), Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo (Abeokuta), Most Rev. Moses Chikwe (Owerri), Cardinals John Onaiyekan and Peter Okpaleke, and Archbishops Ignatius Kiagama, Gabriel Abegunrin, Valerian Okeke, as well as Bishops Emmanuel Badejo, Gerald Musa, Matthew Kukah, Callistus Onaga, Godfrey Onah, Augustine Echema, and Christopher Naseri.
Also present were Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo (Secretary General), Rev. Fr. Peter Audu, Rev. Fr. Michael Imhadownyi, and Dickson Adeyanju, the statement said
