President Bola Ahmed Tinubu used the Eid el-Fitr gathering at his Lagos residence to underscore his administration’s commitment to tackling the country’s growing insecurity and to call on governors to step up support for vulnerable citizens. Hosting Vice President Kashim Shettima and 23 governors, Tinubu described insecurity as “the next phase” of the nation’s struggle—an obstacle to development, progress and prosperity that must be confronted collectively.
Tinubu told the governors he has been building international partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s security capacity, including discussions in the United Kingdom about equipment and support and a recent phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. He said he is also reaching out to other nations to secure further assistance. The president emphasized that these efforts are intended to ensure all Nigerians can “share the joy of our victory over tyranny.”
With the global Middle East crisis fuelling inflation and driving up energy and transport costs, Tinubu urged governors to care for the poor and cushion the impact on citizens’ purchasing power. He warned that labour groups may seek more government support as living costs rise, and asked state leaders to translate ideas into policies and programmes that improve livelihoods and help defeat criminality.
Kwara State governor and Nigerian Governors’ Forum chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq thanked the president and said governors are collaborating to end insecurity, including discussions about state policing. He noted ongoing consultations with security agencies and said the NGF will forward a legislative framework for state police to the National Assembly.
Several governors attended the Lagos meeting, including Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Alex Otti (Abia), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), and others. The gathering highlighted a unified call for stronger security measures, greater support for the vulnerable amid rising inflation, and continued collaboration between state and federal leaders to restore peace and stability across Nigeria.
