Tinubu remains committed to nation-building despite challenges – Akume

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume,  has said  despite challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to building a nation Nigerians will be proud of.

He spoke Wednesday at the second quarterly meeting of the  Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja.

He said: “Our nation is still passing through the path of diverse challenges. Violence, signposted by criminal activities such as banditry, kidnappings, communal clashes, and terrorist attacks, have left deep wounds in our country. In the process, we have lost beloved relations, teachers, traders, and parents; too many of our children have known fear at school gates. In several places, parents are afraid to let their children go to school or the market, in spite of the government’s investment in the safe school initiative.

“None of these tragedies is acceptable to the government or to you, our religious and community leaders. The assurance from the President is that every Nigerian will be adequately protected and no effort will be spared to secure their lives, livelihoods and dignity. Our Armed Forces, security agencies and the police are working day and night by intensifying their operations: they have intensified operations to reclaim every part of our nation from these non-state actors and criminals.

“Government has been implanting programs and strategies to strengthen intelligence gathering, sharing, improved rapid response mechanisms and also fortify security at soft target locations such as churches, mosques, schools and markets. In the words of the President, “this government will not relent until every Nigerian can live, work, travel, and dream in safety.

“Efforts of government at building a formidable security system must be complements by other stakeholders because it is a joint responsibility. Whenever leaders of faith (Christianity and Islam), traditional and community leaders speak with one voice, it reverberates across Nigeria, to effectively counter the narrative of division. All religions must condemn the barbaric tactics of bandits and terrorists because they debase humanity and violate all that our faiths stand for. We must stand together today saying: enough is enough.

“To the religious and traditional leaders here, the nation looks up to you to promote tolerance and peace. We must refuse to allow these agents of darkness to use their cruelty to stoke religious or ethnic divisions by reminding our congregations that violence is a crime against faith itself. We must guide them to respect one another’s places of worship and encourage honest discourse on economic and social issues so that frustration does not turn into hatred.

“The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR commends the recent initiative organized by the Muslim World League and NIREC. You will recall that in August, 2026 more than 50 Muslim and Christian leaders signed a peace accord aimed at “building social harmony”.

Also speaking, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin stated that “we must remain united as a country, despite our differences”. That message from the accord combined with your work at the NIREC should form a strong narrative that must be carried into every corner of Nigeria. The government will support follow-up workshops in key geo-political locations to implement its commitments.”