President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that Nigeria will soon overcome its security challenges, particularly in the northern region, saying his administration has put in place decisive measures to end criminal activities across the country.
The President stated this on Saturday in Kaduna during the Third Late General Hassan Usman Katsina Memorial Conference, where he was represented by his Special Adviser on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari.
Paying tribute to the late General Hassan Usman Katsina, Tinubu described him as a symbol of humility, discipline, patriotism and selfless service. He said the former military governor of the defunct Northern Region and later Chief of Army Staff played a pivotal role in promoting national unity during critical periods of Nigeria’s history.
According to the President, General Katsina’s commitment to national unity helped lay the foundation for the democracy and freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing the country and preserving the legacies of past national heroes.
“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.
The President also highlighted key achievements of his administration across education, infrastructure, transportation and the power sector.
He said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has enabled more than one million students to access higher education through financial support. He added that removing tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) has strengthened institutional autonomy and promoted industrial harmony in public universities.
Tinubu noted that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has financed the construction of classrooms, laboratories, hostels and research facilities nationwide, while the government has introduced a new national curriculum, expanded teacher training and invested in technical and vocational education. He also announced the establishment of new federal universities and polytechnics across the country.
On infrastructure, the President 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.
In the power sector, he highlighted ongoing projects such as the Kaduna Power Station, the 40-megawatt Kumbotso High Voltage Power Project and the revitalisation of the 215-megawatt Kaduna Power Plant. He also said the Nigerian government is expanding renewable energy through the installation of more than 1,500 solar-powered streetlights and 50 mini-grids in rural communities.
Tinubu announced that the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna has been upgraded to a full-fledged university named after General Hassan Usman Katsina. According to him, the institution is more than 90 per cent complete and has already commenced academic activities.
He also 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, while renewable energy projects are being implemented to serve off-grid communities.
On transportation, the President said construction of the Kaduna–Kano Rail Line and the Kano–Maradi Rail Project is progressing steadily. He added that funding has been provided for the Kaduna and Kano Light Rail projects, while the Abuja Metro Rail is being rehabilitated and the Abuja–Kaduna train service upgraded to improve passenger and cargo movement.
Tinubu said the projects reflect his administration’s commitment to improving security, expanding economic opportunities and accelerating national development.