By Obinna Uballa
President Bola Tinubu on Monday declared that banditry and terrorism have become major economic obstacles to Nigeria’s growth, vowing that his administration would strengthen security forces while pushing through ranching and livestock reforms as a lasting solution to farmer-herder conflicts.
Speaking at the opening of the two-day National Economic Council (NEC) conference at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Tinubu said he expected the gathering to produce concrete, actionable resolutions on ranching, dairy farming, livestock investment and agricultural diversification.
“I’m confident that the resolution of this conference will include dairy farming, livestock investment, ranches and diversification of our agricultural produce. I promise you here, I will play my part. I promise Nigeria that this will be delivered,” the President said.
Tinubu linked the urgency of livestock sector transformation directly to national security, describing banditry and terrorism as alien to Nigerian culture and an economic hindrance requiring immediate solutions.
“To further find means to strengthen our security forces to defeat terrorism and combat banditry, that I promise you is what has kept all of us sleepless at night. But I assure you that we will win with determination and resilience,” he said.
“This banditry and terrorism are unacceptable. It is not part of our culture. It is foreign to us. So it is an economic hindrance if we do not find an immediate solution to it.”
The President’s remarks come amid renewed attacks across several states, including the February 3 massacre in Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where at least 162 residents were reportedly killed by suspected extremists. The attackers allegedly struck after residents rejected their demand to adopt a hardline version of Sharia law.
On the same day, bandits killed no fewer than 20 people in Doma communities in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State following the collapse of a community-driven peace arrangement.
Tinubu commended several governors for their efforts in combating insecurity, singling out the governors of Borno and Katsina states.
“I commend many of you, particularly the governor of Borno State, Katsina, many of you who have done so much to defend our freedom, liberty and our commonwealth,” he said.
The President tied the security challenges to his administration’s livestock reforms, recalling his December 10, 2025 directive to Vice President Kashim Shettima and the NEC to develop a roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s livestock industry through ranching.
At the Federal Executive Council meeting on that day, Tinubu tasked Shettima, who chairs the NEC, with sensitising governors and key stakeholders on ranching reforms. He also directed the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, to identify villages and grazing areas that could be rehabilitated into modern ranches.
“We must eliminate these areas of conflict and make the livestock reform economically viable. The opportunity is there, let’s utilise it,” Tinubu had said.
Following the directive, the NEC at its 155th meeting on December 18, 2025, inaugurated a Livestock Development Committee chaired by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, with representatives from all six geopolitical zones, to fast-track nationwide ranching and livestock production reforms.
Tinubu arrived at the conference venue at 12:12 pm before formally declaring the second edition of the NEC conference open.
Shettima is presiding over the conference, which was convened by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, under the theme, ‘Delivering Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development: The Renewed Hope National Development Plan.’
The conference, holding on February 9 and 10, is expected to address pressing macroeconomic priorities, including fiscal coordination, investment mobilisation and shared development strategies between federal and state governments.
According to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and Secretary of the NEC, Dr Deborah Odo, the conference is focused on national economic issues aimed at stimulating growth and development across the country.
State governors, senior government officials, development partners and private-sector leaders are participating as the Federal Government seeks to deepen reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
