…insists citizens’ safety remains priority
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the establishment of State Police has become unavoidable as his administration intensifies its security campaign, reaffirming that the safety of Nigerians remains the central obligation guiding all government decisions.
The President renewed his pledge to confront insecurity “with decisive action,” noting that his administration is expanding the country’s security architecture while pursuing those he described as enemies of the state.
The message was delivered on Sunday in Lokoja at a memorial for former Kogi State Governor, Prince Abubakar Audu, where the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stood in for the President.
Idris said government operatives are fully mobilised to track down groups threatening national stability, adding that recent security setbacks have reinforced the administration’s determination to restore peace. He noted that the President considers the safety and welfare of Nigerians as a guiding obligation, one that underpins the State of Emergency declared on national security.
The minister explained that the declaration marks a shift toward increased security manpower, strengthened intelligence systems, and structural reforms, including the move toward State Police. According to him, the President views a localised policing system as essential for tackling community-level threats and boosting grassroots employment, and the administration is prepared to pursue the constitutional changes required.
Government, he added, is also intensifying diplomatic engagements to counter narratives abroad that misrepresent Nigeria’s religious balance and long-standing traditions of coexistence.
The memorial event also saw the President pay tribute to Prince Audu, describing the late governor as a pivotal figure who shaped Kogi State’s political foundation and contributed to Nigeria’s transition to stable civilian rule. Tinubu recalled Audu’s election as the state’s first civilian governor in 1992 and again in 1999, portraying him as a pathfinder whose legacy continues to inform national governance. He described Audu as a founding ally whose influence endures, characterising his career as an example of leadership defined by institutional contribution rather than personal ambition.
Turning to economic reforms, the President said his administration is reshaping the livestock sector through a new ranching framework, improved animal husbandry, and the integration of the livestock value chain into national planning. He maintained that the initiative is designed to reduce long-standing tensions in the sector and convert it into a generator of jobs, food security, and rural peace.
Tinubu also cited the Social Investment Programmes as part of a broader attempt to place citizens at the centre of governance by providing support for vulnerable households, funding small and medium enterprises, and equipping young people with globally competitive skills.
According to him, ongoing infrastructure expansion, from upgraded roads and rail lines to expanded power projects, represents a national effort to connect markets, strengthen industry, and reinforce unity. He said the developmental template laid by Prince Audu in Kogi State remains one the Federal Government intends top replicate and broaden across Nigeria.
