President Bola Tinubu has pledged that his administration remains dedicated to strengthening security, education, infrastructure and the economy as it pursues sweeping reforms. Speaking through his Special Assistant on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, at the third General Hassan Usman Katsina Memorial Conference in Kaduna on Saturday, Tinubu said the changes underway will build a stronger Nigeria.
The president vowed to protect the legacies of Nigeria's founding leaders through development-focused policies. He expressed confidence that the security crisis, especially in Northern Nigeria, will be resolved soon.
"While we continue to work day and night to secure our nation, by the grace of Allah, the challenges of insecurity confronting us, particularly in Northern Nigeria, will soon be behind us," he said.
On education, Tinubu pointed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as proof of expanded university access, with over one million students now enrolled. The government also freed tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and stopped deducting from their internally generated revenues.
Tinubu noted that new classrooms, hostels, research facilities and science complexes have been built through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). A fresh national curriculum has been approved and technical and vocational training has expanded, he added.
Several states now host new federal universities and polytechnics to improve access to quality education across the nation. These institutions aim to close gaps in tertiary education provision.
On roads, the president said reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway is advancing steadily. The Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Sokoto-Zamfara-Kaduna Road and the 434-kilometre Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Road are under construction to boost trade and movement.
Energy infrastructure is being strengthened across Northern Nigeria through several projects. These include the Kaduna Power Station, the 40-megawatt Kumbotso High Voltage Power Project, rural solar mini-grids and the revival of the 215-megawatt Kaduna Power Plant.
The College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna has been elevated to university status and named after the late General Hassan Usman Katsina. The institution is more than 90 per cent complete and has already begun teaching students.
Work continues on the 1,350-megawatt Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant while renewable energy schemes roll out in Kaduna and surrounding states. Rail projects are progressing as well.
The Kaduna-Kano Rail Line and Kano-Maradi Rail Project continue construction at a steady pace. Funding has been set aside for light rail projects in both Kaduna and Kano, while the Abuja Metro Rail undergoes repairs and the Abuja-Kaduna train service is being upgraded.
The president said his government had also made strides in agriculture, food security, youth employment and social welfare schemes. These reforms, he stressed, aim to transform the nation.
