Tinubu Defends Reforms, Vows to Crush Terrorism in Democracy Day Address

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday used his 2026 Democracy Day address to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions, defeating insecurity, and delivering economic prosperity through ongoing reforms.
Addressing the nation to mark June 12, Tinubu celebrated Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, describing it as the country’s longest period of civilian governance and a testament to the resilience of the Nigerian people.
“Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it,” the President declared.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and political parties to ensure peaceful and credible elections in Ekiti and Osun states, warning that democracy suffers when citizens lose confidence in the electoral process.
Tinubu paid tribute to pro-democracy heroes, including Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Frank Kokori and other activists who sacrificed for the restoration of democratic rule.
The President acknowledged that this year’s Democracy Day celebrations were overshadowed by the abduction of children in Oyo and Borno states but assured Nigerians that his administration remained determined to secure the country.
He disclosed that the government had declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers alongside thousands of military personnel. According to him, the 2026 budget allocates N5.41 trillion to defence and security—the highest in Nigeria’s history.
Tinubu said the nation’s counter-terrorism efforts had recorded significant successes, revealing that terror-related deaths had declined by 81 per cent since 2015, while more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised in the past year.
He also noted that over 124,000 fighters and their dependants had surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.
“To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State,” he warned. “No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.”
On the economy, Tinubu defended the reforms introduced since assuming office in 2023, arguing that they were necessary to rescue the country from fiscal instability and restore investor confidence.
He said federation revenues had improved, fiscal leakages had been reduced, and investments had increased across key sectors, including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining and transportation.
The President added that domestic refining capacity had expanded, reducing dependence on imported petroleum products, while non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent last year.
Highlighting efforts to improve electricity supply, Tinubu said the Electricity Act had empowered states to generate, transmit and distribute power, while the Presidential Power Sector Task Force had been authorised to raise a N4 trillion bond to clear verified legacy debts in the sector.
He disclosed that the National Agricultural Development Fund would deploy 10,000 tractors over five years and that more than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises had been certified for export.
Despite these gains, Tinubu admitted that many Nigerians were still grappling with economic hardship.
“We remain focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, improving living standards and rebuilding confidence in our economy,” he said, adding that “democracy must be felt in the pocket.”
The President also reiterated his administration’s push for financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils, describing ineffective grassroots governance as a major impediment to national development and security.
As part of activities marking Democracy Day, Tinubu announced the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
He further unveiled a list of pro-democracy activists, journalists, politicians and military officers who would receive national honours in recognition of their sacrifices during the June 12 struggle.
“The generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity,” Tinubu said.
He urged Nigerians to reject division and despair, embrace unity and hope, and work together to build a nation where justice prevails, liberty is protected and opportunities abound.
“June 12 reminds us: Nigerians do not break. We bend, we bleed, but we do not break,” the President stated.
He concluded by calling on citizens to renew their commitment to ensuring that “the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain” and wished Nigerians a happy Democracy Day.