President Bola Tinubu has promised improved salaries and welfare packages for members of the armed forces and police as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.Nigerian news subscription
He said his administration was strengthening security agencies and improving the welfare of personnel to enable them to protect lives and property across the country.
Tinubu spoke on Tuesday at the Dutse Township Stadium in Jigawa State, where he addressed supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a political rally.
He assured Nigerians that his administration would defeat insecurity, describing those responsible for violence and instability as enemies of national unity and development.
“I promise you, we are working hard to ensure that Nigeria is safe and our forces are well taken care of, regardless of where they come from.
“We will conquer insecurity. We’ve been through many wars. We will defeat our enemies. Enemies of unity, enemies of stability, enemies of hope. I assure you that we are doing that.
“We’re strengthening the police; we’re strengthening the armed forces. We are paying better salaries today,” he said.
At the rally, Tinubu presented the APC campaign manifesto, titled From Reforms to Prosperity, outlining his administration’s achievements and proposed programmes in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, security and other sectors.
He described the document as a blueprint for consolidating ongoing economic reforms, expanding opportunities and delivering prosperity to Nigerians.
He pledged to complete ongoing programmes and projects, insisting that his administration’s policies were already producing results across different sectors of the economy.
While defending his decision to remove the petroleum subsidy, Tinubu accused political opponents advocating its restoration of misleading Nigerians.
He argued that returning to the subsidy regime would undermine the government’s capacity to finance infrastructure and other development projects.
“You have seen what we are doing. Across the country, no region is left behind. Those who think they should bring the subsidy back are liars.
“How will they pay for those commitments? How will you repair the roads? How will you maintain them? How will you function?” he asked.
Tinubu said savings from the removal of the subsidy had made it possible for the Federal Government to undertake several projects across the country’s geopolitical zones.
On agriculture, the President promised additional support for small-scale farmers through financing, mechanisation and irrigation facilities.
He said the government was planning interest-free loans to farmers as part of efforts to increase food production and achieve food security.
“We will reward small-scale farmers. Interest-free loans for farmers are coming. Prosperity is coming. Food security will happen,” he said.
The President thanked the people of Jigawa for their support and loyalty, urging them to participate actively in the forthcoming general elections and vote for APC candidates at all levels.
Earlier, Tinubu commissioned the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Multi-Purpose Skills Acquisition Centre and the Renewed Hope Technical Services Centre in Dutse.
He also virtually commissioned the three-kilometre dualised Old Police Station–Palace Road in the state capital.
The President further commissioned 400 tractors and other agricultural equipment procured by the Jigawa State Government to promote mechanised farming and improve food production.
In his welcome address, Governor Umar Namadi commended Tinubu for what he described as the Federal Government’s development interventions in Jigawa and other parts of Northern Nigeria.
Namadi highlighted the Greater Hadejia Water Project, which he said was 60 per cent complete, the Katsina–Maradi rail line and federal interventions in education, agriculture and social welfare.
He also thanked the President for approving the establishment of Federal Colleges of Education in Dutse and Hadejia.
The governor particularly recalled Tinubu’s promise during the 2023 election campaign to address the acute water shortage in Dutse, which he said was made to the late Emir of Dutse, Dr Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi.
He said the President had taken steps towards fulfilling the promise, while also commending the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), through which thousands of students from the state had benefited.
Namadi also praised the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, saying it had provided relief to several indigent families in Jigawa.
However, the governor appealed to Tinubu to intervene in the ecological challenges confronting Dutse and Hadejia, describing the problems as beyond the capacity of the state government.
He said the ecological challenges had become insurmountable for the state without federal intervention.
