‘We Will Show No Mercy’: Tinubu Declares All-Out War on Terrorists, Bandits, Sponsors

• President Bola Tinubu has vowed to show no mercy to terrorists, bandits and their sponsors as he unveiled a sweeping reset of Nigeria’s security architecture and proposed a record N5.41 trillion allocation for defence and security in the 2026 budget.

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to crush terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, declaring that there would be no mercy for perpetrators or their sponsors.

The President made the declaration on Friday while presenting the N58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly. The budget, approved earlier by the Federal Executive Council at an emergency meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, is titled “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity.”

As part of the renewed security push, Tinubu earmarked N5.41 trillion for defence and security—the single largest allocation in the proposed budget. This marks the third consecutive year that security spending has taken top priority since the administration began presenting national budgets in November 2023.

According to the President, the allocation reflects his government’s belief that security is the foundation of national development. He stressed that defence spending would be tied to accountability and measurable outcomes, with a focus on equipping the armed forces and security agencies with modern hardware and technology.

“We will show no mercy. We will usher in a new era of criminal justice. We will act firmly against those who commit or support acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and other violent crimes,” Tinubu said.

He also announced a reset of Nigeria’s national security architecture and the introduction of a new counter-terrorism doctrine built on unified command, intelligence gathering, community stability and counter-insurgency operations. Under the new framework, all armed non-state actors operating outside the authority of the state will be classified as terrorists.

Bandits, militias, armed gangs, violent cults, forest-based armed groups and foreign-linked criminal networks will be treated as legitimate targets of security operations. Tinubu added that individuals and networks that finance or facilitate violence for political or sectarian purposes would also be pursued.

Providing a sectoral breakdown of the budget, the President said defence and security would receive N5.41 trillion, infrastructure N3.56 trillion, education N3.52 trillion, and health and social services N2.48 trillion. He described the priorities as interconnected, noting that security, human capital development and infrastructure were essential for sustainable growth.

Tinubu disclosed that total revenue for 2026 is projected at N34.33 trillion, while total expenditure stands at N58.18 trillion. Debt servicing is estimated at N15.52 trillion, recurrent non-debt expenditure at N15.2 trillion, and capital expenditure at N26.08 trillion. The budget deficit of N23.85 trillion represents 4.28 per cent of GDP.

DON’T MISS: FULL TEXT: President Tinubu’s 2026 Budget Speech

The fiscal projections are based on a crude oil benchmark of $64.85 per barrel, production of 1.8 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of N1,400 to the dollar.

The President also vowed to end Nigeria’s long-standing practice of running multiple overlapping budgets, announcing that from 2026 the country would operate a single, disciplined budget cycle. He said all outstanding capital liabilities from previous years would be fully funded and closed by March 2026.

Acknowledging the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, Tinubu said the reforms undertaken by his administration were necessary to stabilise the economy and secure long-term prosperity.

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for stronger collaboration between the Executive and the National Assembly, while Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the proposed budget signalled restored stability, renewed confidence and strengthened fiscal order.