Abuja, June 18, 2025 – The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has expressed strong commendation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what it described as bold and pragmatic steps taken to de-escalate the lingering hostilities in Benue State. The governors, under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), hailed the President’s recent intervention as timely and reflective of his commitment to peace, national unity, and security.
In a statement released after a strategic meeting in Abuja, the Forum noted that President Tinubu’s approach to the Benue conflict, which has been characterised by clashes between farming communities and armed herders, has started yielding positive results. They cited improved security presence in affected communities, ongoing peace dialogues, and federal-level coordination with local stakeholders as evidence of progress.
The PGF emphasised that the President’s actions have not only restored calm in several flashpoint areas but have also rekindled hope among displaced persons and residents of Benue who have endured years of instability. According to the governors, such decisive leadership reinforces the federal government’s capacity to safeguard lives and property across all regions.
While pledging continued support for the Tinubu administration, the Forum urged all parties in Benue to embrace peace and fully cooperate with the mechanisms put in place to sustain normalcy. They also called on security agencies to maintain neutrality, professionalism, and vigilance in ensuring that renewed violence is forestalled.
President Tinubu has over the past few weeks intensified efforts to address internal security challenges, with Benue among the top priorities due to its history of deadly communal tensions. His administration has also committed to a broader strategy of rural security reforms, community policing enhancement, and humanitarian support for conflict-affected zones.
The Progressive Governors Forum described the federal government’s handling of the Benue situation as a model for conflict resolution in Nigeria, stressing that peacebuilding remains a shared responsibility among all levels of government and the citizenry.
