Tinubu Promises Total Security Across Nigeria and Tells Media to Stop Giving Terrorists a Loudspeaker

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised Nigerians that the days of security forces playing defense are officially over, announcing a major tactical shift aimed at completely clearing out criminal groups and bringing lasting peace to every corner of the country.

The President shared this renewed security blueprint during the first-ever State House Press Corps Presidential Dinner in Abuja. The late-night gathering brought together top editors, correspondents, and senior government officials for a rare evening of shared reflection, lighthearted barbs, and deep discussions on the future of the nation’s security and media landscape.

Addressing the crowd, Tinubu explained that while the country’s security issues have been deep and complex, the military has successfully changed its game plan. Instead of waiting for bandits and kidnappers to strike before deploying troops, tactical units are now using improved intelligence and close inter-agency teamwork to locate and destroy criminal hideouts before they can launch attacks.

The President urged the media to be exceptionally careful when reporting on security matters. He noted that in the modern digital age, criminal networks rely heavily on media coverage to spread fear, warning journalists not to accidentally do the terrorists’ public relations work for them.

“While Nigeria continues to face tough security challenges, we have moved steadily from reacting to threats toward systematically degrading them,” President Bola Tinubu stated during his address. “At a time when our nation is tackling these threats and rescuing hostages, the media must not become an amplifier for those who wish to harm us. They want us divided and afraid of one another. The media must resist the temptation of becoming megaphones for terrorists and kidnappers. We must protect our nation.”

Tinubu also raised the alarm over the rapid rise of advanced digital identity theft, specifically warning media houses to guard their platforms against fake news, deep fakes, and voice and facial cloning technologies designed to destabilize national security.

Shifting the conversation to politics and governance, the President drew laughter from the audience by describing the natural friction between his administration and the press. He explained that a free press is legally obligated to ask tough questions, while the government is obligated to execute policies, meaning that a bit of regular conflict is actually a sign of a healthy society.

“Government must act, the media must watch,” Tinubu remarked with a smile. “That arrangement guarantees a certain level of tension. It ensures that we are constantly at each other’s throats—not because we dislike one another, but because democracy demands it.”

Beyond security and media ethics, the President closed by defending his administration’s controversial economic shakeups, including ongoing tax and fiscal adjustments. Insisting that the hardest days of the transition are beginning to pass, Tinubu maintained that the economic foundation is finally stable, paving a clear path for productivity, local jobs, and a safer environment where everyday businesses can safely expand.