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President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the security challenges facing the country, particularly in the North, will soon be overcome, saying his administration has taken decisive steps to curb the activities of criminal groups.
The President gave the assurance on Saturday at the Third Late General Hassan Usman Katsina Memorial Conference in Kaduna. He was represented by his Special Adviser on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari.
Tinubu paid tribute to the late General Hassan Usman Katsina, describing him as a disciplined, humble and patriotic leader whose service helped strengthen national unity during a critical period in Nigeria’s history.
He said the former military governor of the defunct Northern Region and later Chief of Army Staff played a key role in preserving the country’s unity and laying the foundation for the democratic freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing the country while preserving the legacy of national heroes such as General Katsina.
He expressed confidence that ongoing security efforts would soon restore peace, particularly in northern Nigeria.
“While we continue to work day and night to secure our nation, by the grace of Allah, the challenges of insecurity confronting us, particularly in Northern Nigeria, will soon be behind us,” he said.
Tinubu also stated key achievements of his administration across education, infrastructure, power and transportation.
He said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has enabled more than one million students to access higher education through financial support, while the removal of tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) has strengthened university autonomy and contributed to industrial harmony.
According to him, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has financed classrooms, laboratories, hostels and research facilities across the country. He added that the government has introduced a new national curriculum, expanded teacher training programmes, invested in technical and vocational education, and established new federal universities and polytechnics.
On infrastructure, Tinubu said work is progressing on major road projects, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Sokoto-Zamfara-Kaduna Road and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Road to improve connectivity and stimulate economic activity.
He said the government is also investing in the power sector through projects such as the Kaduna Power Station, the 40-megawatt Kumbotso High Voltage Power Project and the rehabilitation of the 215-megawatt Kaduna Power Plant.
The President added that more than 1,500 solar-powered streetlights and 50 mini-grids are being deployed to expand electricity access in rural communities.
Tinubu also announced that the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna has been upgraded to a university named after General Hassan Usman Katsina. He said the institution is more than 90 per cent complete and has already begun academic activities.
He further disclosed that work is ongoing on the 1,350-megawatt Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant to improve electricity supply in northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside renewable energy projects targeting off-grid communities.
On transportation, Tinubu said construction of the Kaduna-Kano Rail Line and the Kano-Maradi Rail Project is advancing, while funding has been secured for the Kaduna and Kano light rail projects.
He added that the Abuja Metro Rail is being rehabilitated and the Abuja-Kaduna rail service upgraded to improve the movement of passengers and goods.
The President said the projects reflect his administration’s commitment to improving security, expanding economic opportunities and accelerating national development.
