President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed his plans to take over some areas in the country — especially forests and focus on fighting terrorists with Technology.
In a Saturday statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga – he revealed that Tinubu’s administration would secure forests and enhance surveillance in the Northwest.
The president who made this statement on Friday night, in Kastina while addressing elders and leaders — at a state dinner held at the Government House — revealed that the move is aimed at combat kidnapping and all round insecurity in the country.
“We will invest more in technology and take over the forests,” he said.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ capital‑importation data – Katsina state, has ranked among the 34 states to receive no new capital in the first nine months, in 2024 — as it pulled null foreign direct investment.
Meanwhile, its neighbouring state, Kaduna was the only state in the north to receive a new capital.
According to the statistics, two factory in Katsina were closed down between 2020 and 2024 — this was blamed on insecurity and rising operating costs.
Based on this, Tinubu said;
“Investment is cowardly, and it will not go where there is banditry and terrorism. We will solve the problem together with the states and local councils.
“We will invest more in technology and take over the forests. Security is a national issue, not just at the local or regional levels. If we genuinely need investment in Nigeria, we must address security.”
In the past decade, the Northwest has witnessed several terrors. According to a UNIDIR survey — 2,947 Kastina residents were involved and they revealed that the state recorded up to 731% bandit attacks between 2018 and 2022. This attack cost about 8,300 lives while 9,527 were abducted between 2019 and Q1 2024.
Based on this, Kastina ranked 62% of all kidnappings in the country.
According to the RouteWatch’s Security Risk Index — 277 attacks and 684 fatalities were recorded in June 2024 alone.
A similar assault on Layin Gara and Maikuma villages were recorded on April 8, 2025, which resulted to lose of six lives and 59 hostages were dragged into the bush.
Shockingly, these attacks happened from the 220‑km‑long Rugu Forest, which has 100 armed camps sprawl across Sabuwa, Faskari, Dandume, Safana, Batsari, Danmusa and Jibia LGAs – according to security operatives.
However, during the night dinner on Friday, Tinubu stated that the federal government would think about upgrading the airport in Katsina. He said this is to create jobs and expand the economy as he highlighted that there has been an improvement in the economy of the country as he promised to support victims of terrorism.
“On the issue of security raised by former governor Aminu Masari again this evening, yes, I agree that security is a challenge for the country. I addressed the men and women of the armed forces earlier today and assured them that we will do everything to fight terrorism and banditry,” the president said.
While he described Buhari to have helped develop Nigeria, significantly — the President lauded the governors of Kaduna, Jigawa, Borno, Benue, Yobe, Sokoto, and Kwara States — for honouring the invitation of Dr. Dikko Radda –Kastina Governor; to commission projects and his daughter’s wedding.
In his remark, Radda said the president’s proposed airport expansion would create 2,700 direct jobs and cost N54bn. He further mentioned that the state has taken measures to gather intelligence via the establishment of security offices.
On the other hand Former Governor Masari said Tinubu has the political will and courage to face the challenges of the country noting that as his reason for supporting him.
Read Also: Kastina Police Reportedly Kills 40 Bandits and Rescues 319 Victims of Kidnap
