President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening democracy, improving security, and advancing economic reforms, as Nigeria marked the 2026 Democracy Day celebration on June 12.
In a nationwide broadcast on Friday, President Tinubu described Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule as a testament to the resilience of the Nigerian people and the enduring strength of democratic governance.
The President noted that since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigerians have consistently chosen their leaders through the ballot box, witnessed peaceful transfers of power, and resolved political disputes through constitutional institutions rather than violence.
“As beneficiaries of the sacrifices of our democratic heroes, we have a duty to strengthen and deepen the institutions for which they fought,” he said.
Tinubu urged stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, the judiciary, civil society organizations, and the media, to ensure peaceful and credible elections in Ekiti and Osun States.
Addressing the nation’s youth, the President encouraged them to actively participate in nation-building by investing their talents and energies in Nigeria’s development.
On security, Tinubu acknowledged national concerns over recent kidnappings in Oyo and Borno states but assured citizens that the government remains determined to secure the country.
He disclosed that his administration had declared a security emergency, approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers and thousands of military personnel, and allocated N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget—the largest security allocation in Nigeria’s history.
According to him, intensified military operations have significantly weakened terrorist groups, including the destruction of a major ISWAP command centre in Arege, Borno State.
The President stated that terror-related deaths have declined by 81 per cent since 2015, while more than 13,000 terrorists were neutralised in the past year. He also revealed that over 124,000 insurgents and their dependents had surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.
Issuing a stern warning to criminal elements, Tinubu said bandits, kidnappers, and terror sponsors must either surrender or face the full force of the law.
“Crime has no ethnicity. We must remain united against those who seek to undermine our nation,” he said.
Reflecting on the significance of June 12, the President paid tribute to Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, and other pro-democracy figures whose sacrifices paved the way for democratic governance in Nigeria.
He also honoured notable democracy activists, labour leaders, journalists, students, professionals, and military officers who contributed to the struggle against military rule.
On the economy, Tinubu defended his administration’s reforms, saying they were necessary to restore fiscal stability, improve transparency, and attract investments.
He said federation revenues had increased since 2023, enabling states and local governments to invest more in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security.
The President noted that investor confidence had improved across key sectors, including agriculture, energy, mining, technology, manufacturing, transportation, and the creative economy.
Highlighting developments in the power sector, Tinubu said reforms introduced through the Electricity Act had empowered states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity independently.
He disclosed that the Presidential Power Sector Task Force had been authorized to raise a N4 trillion bond to settle verified legacy debts and address longstanding challenges in the sector.
According to him, rural electrification projects supported by international development partners are already extending off-grid and mini-grid power solutions to underserved communities, educational institutions, hospitals, and markets.
In agriculture, the President announced that the National Agricultural Development Fund would deploy 10,000 tractors over five years to boost productivity, while more than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises had been certified for export.
He added that non-oil exports recorded a 21 per cent increase in the past year.
Despite these gains, Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerians continue to face economic hardship and pledged that the government would remain focused on reducing inflation, creating jobs, increasing food production, and improving living standards.
The President reiterated his administration’s support for financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils, describing effective grassroots governance as critical to national development and security.
“Democracy must be felt in the pocket,” he declared, stressing that the next phase of governance would focus on ensuring that the benefits of economic growth reach every community.
In a major announcement, Tinubu approved the revitalization and renaming of the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology in honour of the late pro-democracy leader.
The President also announced national honours for dozens of individuals who played significant roles in Nigeria’s democratic struggle, including journalists, activists, legal practitioners, academics, politicians, and retired military officers.
He said the full honours list would be released in the coming days.
Tinubu concluded by calling on Nigerians to reject division and despair, embrace unity and hope, and work collectively towards building a more prosperous and just nation.
“The generation of our founding fathers secured independence, the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity,” he said.
He urged citizens to renew their commitment to the ideals of freedom, justice, accountability, and national unity, while expressing confidence that Nigeria would overcome its current challenges and emerge stronger.
“June 12 reminds us that Nigerians do not break. We bend, we bleed, but we do not break,” the President declared.
