President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally unveiled Nigeria’s 2026–2030 National Development Plan, a comprehensive framework aimed at addressing the country’s persistent security challenges while promoting sustainable economic growth and technological advancement. The plan was presented during a nationally televised address and a high-profile ceremony attended by members of the federal cabinet, security chiefs, governors, and representatives of civil society and international partners. Tinubu described the plan as a strategic blueprint for a safer, more prosperous, and resilient Nigeria, emphasizing that security and development are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing priorities.
A central focus of the plan is the fight against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry, particularly in northern and central Nigeria, which have been most affected by violent extremism and armed criminal activity. To address these challenges, President Tinubu announced the creation of mechanised security zones designed to integrate advanced military hardware, rapid reaction units, and coordinated intelligence networks. These zones are intended to serve as both defensive and proactive measures, enabling security forces to respond swiftly to attacks, maintain persistent patrols, and disrupt the operational capabilities of terrorist groups and armed gangs.
The plan also emphasizes community-centered security initiatives, including partnerships between local populations, vigilante groups, and formal law enforcement agencies to improve intelligence gathering, detect early threats, and prevent the recruitment of youth into extremist or criminal networks. The president highlighted that the effectiveness of the mechanised zones would depend on strong civil-military cooperation, logistical support, and the integration of modern technology, including surveillance drones, armored vehicles, and rapid mobility units.
Security objectives are closely linked to socio-economic measures in the plan. Recognizing that poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunity often contribute to insurgency recruitment, the administration committed to expanding mechanized agriculture programs, industrial parks, and agro-processing zones in rural and semi-urban areas. These initiatives aim to increase local employment, improve food security, and provide alternative livelihoods that reduce vulnerability to extremist influence. Infrastructure development, including roads, electricity, water supply, and telecommunications, is also prioritized to connect previously isolated communities to economic centers and markets.
Education and healthcare are key components of the strategy, with plans for school reconstruction, vocational training, and mobile health units in conflict-prone regions. President Tinubu emphasized that enhancing human capital and access to social services is critical not only for long-term development but also for fostering public trust in government institutions, which in turn supports effective security operations.
Financially, the plan allocates increased funding to the armed forces, police, and paramilitary agencies, along with reforms to improve operational efficiency, accountability, and ethical conduct in the field. International partnerships and intelligence-sharing arrangements with neighboring countries and global partners are also envisioned, reflecting the transnational nature of terrorism, insurgency, and organized crime.
