Tinubu reaffirms commitment to northern development, security

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ending insecurity and accelerating infrastructure development across Northern Nigeria, assuring that ongoing reforms would deliver lasting peace and economic prosperity to the region.

Tinubu gave the assurance Saturday at the third General Hassan Usman Katsina Memorial Conference in Kaduna, where he was represented by his Special Assistant on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari.

He said despite the prevailing security challenges, particularly in the North, his administration remained focused on restoring peace.

“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 said his administration had backed its promises with investments in education, road infrastructure, rail transportation, power, agriculture and youth development.

He disclosed that more than one million students had benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), while universities had recorded uninterrupted academic activities following reforms that restored institutional autonomy.

Tinubu also highlighted ongoing reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Sokoto-Zamfara-Kaduna Road and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Highway, describing them as strategic projects aimed at boosting economic growth.

On power, he said the Federal Government was revitalising the 215-megawatt Kaduna Power Plant, constructing the Kaduna Power Station and implementing renewable energy projects across Northern communities to improve electricity supply.

He further announced that the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, had been upgraded to a university named after the late General Hassan Usman Katsina, with the institution over 90 per cent completed and already running academic programmes.

The President also said work was progressing on the Kaduna-Kano and Kano-Maradi rail lines, while funding had been committed for the Kaduna and Kano light rail projects as well as the rehabilitation of the Abuja Metro Rail.

Earlier, Tinubu paid tribute to the late General Hassan Usman Katsina, describing him as a disciplined patriot whose commitment to national unity, education and selfless service remains a model for future generations.

He urged Nigerians to emulate the late military leader’s values and pledged that his administration would continue to preserve the legacies of the country’s national heroes.