We have killed over 300 Boko Haram, bandit commanders – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has announced that security forces have killed over 300 commanders of Boko Haram and bandit groups in the last one year.

This was revealed during his nationwide broadcast marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day on Tuesday.

Speaking on the nation’s security situation, Tinubu expressed optimism about the progress made in combating terrorism and violent extremism.

“Our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry. Our target is to eliminate all threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and other forms of violent extremism,” he stated.

He disclosed that within one year, more Boko Haram and bandit leaders have been eliminated than ever before, with over 300 commanders taken down by Nigerian troops in various regions, including the Northeast and Northwest.

“Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country,” Tinubu said.

The President also noted that peace had been restored to numerous northern communities, allowing displaced residents to return to their homes.

He pledged continued efforts to ensure stability, particularly for farmers, who he expected to return to their farms and boost food production, ultimately lowering food prices.

Tinubu’s address also touched on the government’s response to recent natural disasters, specifically flooding in parts of the country.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to helping victims and emphasized that the administration had approved a Disaster Relief Fund to fast-track emergency response efforts.

Regarding the economy, Tinubu acknowledged the challenges posed by fiscal mismanagement but emphasized that necessary reforms were underway to stabilize the nation’s finances.

He highlighted the attraction of foreign direct investments amounting to over $30 billion in the past year as a sign of progress.

Additionally, Tinubu noted that key divestment transactions in the petroleum sector, including the ExxonMobil-Seplat deal, would soon receive final approval, further boosting oil and gas production.

On monetary policy, Tinubu lauded the Central Bank’s efforts to ensure stability in the foreign exchange market.

He said despite inheriting significant debts, including a $7 billion forex backlog and over N30 trillion in domestic debt, the government has managed to keep foreign reserves stable at $37 billion while reducing the debt service ratio from 97% to 68%.

As part of fiscal policy reforms, Tinubu revealed that the Economic Stabilisation Bills were approved by the Federal Executive Council and would soon be sent to the National Assembly.

These bills, he said, were aimed at stimulating investments, reducing taxes, and creating jobs, while also underscoring his administration’s commitment to implementing the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government financial autonomy, which is seen as a crucial step in re-engineering Nigeria’s political economy.

With these initiatives, Tinubu reassured Nigerians of his government’s resolve to continue working towards peace, stability, and economic prosperity.

Source » pmnewsnigeria.com