‎Tinubu announces ₦5.41trn defence budget on democracy day

‎By Chioma Obinagwam
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‎President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marked Nigeria’s 27th year of uninterrupted civilian rule with a Democracy Day address that blended celebration, tribute, and policy commitments. 
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‎Confiance News gathered from the official X handle of Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday.
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‎Speaking to the nation, Tinubu emphasized that disputes must be resolved through courts and legislatures rather than violence, urging peaceful elections in Ekiti and Osun States. He honored pro-democracy activists, journalists, civil society leaders, and military officers with national awards, while renaming the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna after General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. 
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‎Security dominated the speech. Tinubu declared a national emergency, announcing the recruitment of 50,000 police officers and thousands of military personnel. He revealed that ₦5.41 trillion had been allocated to defence in the 2026 budget, the largest in Nigeria’s history. According to him, terror-related deaths have dropped by 81 percent since 2015, with 13,000 terrorists neutralized in the past year and 124,000 fighters surrendering under Operation Safe Corridor. 
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‎The president also acknowledged recent child abductions in Oyo and Borno, pledging continued rescue efforts. He urged Nigerian youths to “build here, code here, work here, and vote here,” stressing that great nations are built by those who stay to solve problems. Tinubu concluded by calling on institutions such as the National Assembly, Judiciary, Press, and Civil Society to remain the guardrails of democracy. 
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