Tinubu vows safe return of abducted Oyo teachers, pupils

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday assured residents of Oyo State that the schoolchildren and teachers abducted during coordinated attacks on three primary schools in Oriire Local Government Area would be rescued unharmed.

The President, who also urged South-West governors to preserve the developmental legacy of their founding fathers, said the Federal Government was deploying all available measures, including international collaboration, to secure the release of the victims and tackle rising insecurity across the country.

The PidomNigeria reports that the schoolchildren and their teachers were abducted during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire LGA on Friday, May 15, 2026,

Speaking during the inauguration of the newly remodelled and redeveloped Premier Hotel in Ibadan, Oyo State, Tinubu said the Federal Government was deploying all measures to secure their release.

He also said the government was addressing the rising insecurity across the country.

“I must at this point reassure the good people of Oyo State and indeed the South-West that the Federal Government is seriously addressing the upswing in banditry, kidnapping and associated criminalities across the nation,” he said.

The President, therefore, called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and support security agencies through intelligence sharing and community collaboration.

“I urge all citizens to remain vigilant and to work collaboratively with security agencies.

“There is undoubtedly a huge role for traditional and faith-based institutions to play in this regard, and I urge them to take the lead through the various channels provided by government,” he added.

 The President explained that economic growth could only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and security, adding that his administration had made substantial investments in strengthening the nation’s security architecture.

“Economic development can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace, stability and security. That is why our administration has continued to invest significantly in strengthening the nation’s security architecture,” he said.

Tinubu explained that over the past three years, the government had enhanced inter-agency coordination, improved intelligence gathering, expanded technological surveillance capabilities, strengthened community-based security initiatives and increased support for the armed forces and security agencies.

“There is an ongoing process in the National Assembly targeted at enhancing policing at all levels. We hope to roll this out in no distant future,” he said.

He stressed further that his administration’s efforts were yielding measurable results across several parts of the country and would continue until every Nigerian could live and conduct business safely.

“These efforts are yielding measurable results across many parts of the country. We remain committed to ensuring that every Nigerian, every investor, and every visitor can live, work, travel and do business in safety and confidence,” he stated.

He said visitors and investors should be assured that Nigeria was becoming increasingly secure and attractive for investment.

“As guests look forward to using this magnificent facility from within Nigeria and from different parts of the world, they should be assured that our nation is becoming increasingly secure, increasingly connected and increasingly open for business.

“The combination of improved security, expanding infrastructure, economic reforms and strategic investments such as this Premier Hotel, therefore, conveys a strong message that Nigeria is moving steadily towards a more prosperous future,” he said.

Speaking on the remodelled Premier Hotel, the President described it as a landmark project that reaffirmed the commercial, cultural, and strategic importance of Ibadan and Oyo State.

Tinubu said, “Today, what we are celebrating is not just the reopening of a hotel, but the restoration of a true national icon.

“The transformation and modernisation of this facility remind us that heritage should not be abandoned to the passage of time.

“Rather, it should be preserved, renewed, and adapted to meet contemporary realities. In many ways, this project mirrors the rebirth of other iconic national assets across our country.

“It similarly demonstrates that our past can serve as a foundation upon which we build a stronger future.”

The President paid tribute to the visionary leaders of the old Western Region, adding that their enduring institutions continued to serve generations.

“Let me, at this point, pay well-deserved tribute to the visionary leaders of the old Western Region who established enduring institutions and development assets that have continued to serve generations.

“They, undoubtedly, understood that sustainable development required long-term thinking, strategic investment, and collective action.

“Their foresight laid the foundation for many of the economic and social achievements that continue to distinguish this region today,” he said.

The President said Nigeria was undergoing significant economic reforms aimed at laying the foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity.

“My presence here will not be complete if I fail to remind you, as stakeholders, that Nigeria is undergoing a significant transformation. We have confronted difficult structural challenges that constrained growth and investment for many years.

“The reforms we have undertaken are laying the foundation for a stronger, more competitive and more resilient economy.

“The signs of progress are becoming increasingly evident. Investor confidence is improving, strategic investments are growing, and key sectors of the economy are showing renewed momentum. Our foreign reserves have also attained the highest level in the last two decades,” he said.

While describing the rehabilitated hotel as a vote of confidence in the country’s future, the President said the project reflected optimism and belief in Nigeria’s economic prospects.

He said, “The newly transformed Premier Hotel is itself a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s future. It represents optimism, enterprise and belief in the opportunities ahead.”

He urged investors to continue investing in Nigeria, assuring them that the government remained committed to creating an enabling environment for businesses to flourish.

“As we celebrate this milestone, I encourage investors across the country and beyond to continue investing in Nigeria. Our nation offers tremendous opportunities, and our government remains committed to creating the conditions necessary for businesses to succeed.

“My charge to all stakeholders today (Thursday) is simple: let us preserve our heritage, embrace innovation, invest boldly in our future, create opportunities for our young people, and build institutions that will endure for generations.”

He, therefore, commended successive boards, management teams, and staff of Odu’a Investment Company Limited for preserving and strengthening the legacy through changing economic cycles and evolving business realities.

The President stated, “I also commend the successive boards, management teams, and staff of Odu’a Investment Company Limited for preserving and strengthening this legacy through changing economic cycles and evolving business realities.

“Their stewardship demonstrates that Nigerians possess the capacity and capability to build institutions that endure and remain relevant across generations.

“Let me particularly appreciate the governors and governments of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states for their commitment to repositioning Odu’a Investment Company as a leading regional investment institution.

“The success we celebrate today is powerful evidence of what can happen when governments synergise, leverage regional strengths, and create an enabling environment for enterprise to thrive.”

Speaking on the hospitality and tourism industry, the President described it as a growing enterprise globally.

“This is because across the world, there is monumental daily movement of goods and services driven by humans.

“With our population and size of our economy, opportunities for growth abound in Nigeria. That is exactly why hospitality and tourism occupy a strategic place under the diversification policy of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“This objective is not just to attract tourists and investors but also to drive economic growth, job creation, foreign exchange earnings, cultural diplomacy, and urban renewal.

“Nigeria possesses enormous tourism potential, from our cultural heritage and historical sites to our creative industries, festivals, natural attractions, and vibrant cities.

“For this reason, our administration has prioritised policies and programmes that support tourism, culture, hospitality, entertainment, and the creative economy.

“We are investing in transportation infrastructure, airport terminals, improving road and air connectivity, strengthening digital services, simplifying business processes, and promoting public-private partnerships that attract investment into tourism-related enterprises.

“Through these interventions, we are positioning Nigeria not merely as a destination for business, but as a destination for leisure, culture, conferences, entertainment, and global engagement,” he stated.

Tinubu said he was particularly thrilled that the inauguration was taking place at a time the administration was implementing a bold regional development strategy across the country.

“Through the establishment and operationalisation of Regional Development Commissions, including the South West Development Commission, we are creating institutional platforms for accelerated infrastructure development, economic integration, investment promotion, and regional competitiveness.

“These commissions are designed to complement the efforts of state governments by unlocking regional opportunities in transportation, tourism, agriculture, technology, industrial development, environmental sustainability, and human capital development.

“For the South-West, with its rich history, entrepreneurial spirit, educational heritage, and cultural assets, the opportunities are limitless.

“We envision a region where improved connectivity, modern infrastructure, thriving tourism corridors, and world-class hospitality facilities work together to drive inclusive prosperity.

“It is on this ground that I have authorised that the South West Development Commission should work closely with the sub-national entities, development conglomerates like the Odu’a Group, the DAWN Commission and private investors to build a world-class economy within a thriving Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said the inauguration marked a significant milestone in the journey of restoring one of the most iconic hospitality landmarks in Nigeria.

Makinde, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Misbau Babatunde, said the Premier Hotel is more than just a hotel, but a symbol of collective history, a landmark that has occupied a special place in the social, economic, and cultural development of the state and the entire southwest region.

He commended the leadership of Odua Group of Companies, jointly owned by the governments of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos, for recognising the importance of the project and for taking deliberate steps to reposition Premier Hotel as a modern hospitality destination.

Earlier in his address, the Group Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Bimbo Ashiru, said the idea of Premier Hotel was conceived as the Western Region’s flagship hospitality asset, built alongside its sister properties such as Hamdala Hotel in Kaduna for the Northern Region, and Hotel Presidential in Enugu for the Eastern Region.

He said the choice of Mokola Hill as the location was both deliberate and symbolic, as the founding fathers selected the elevated terrain for several strategic reasons.

“First, to offer guests a naturally cool and refreshing climate, sheltered from the tropical heat of the valley below; second, to provide an unobstructed, breathtaking panoramic view of the ancient city of Ibadan, including landmarks such as Cocoa House, the Government Secretariat, and Bower’s Tower; and, third, to create a brilliant ‘lighthouse’ effect with its bright white walls and glowing nighttime lights, the hotel became visible from miles around, a radiant beacon of Western Nigerian hospitality and grandeur.

“For decades, this great edifice stood as the gold standard of luxury and service in West Africa.

“It was the preferred residence for heads of state, royal families, foreign diplomats, captains of industry, and discerning travellers from every corner of the globe.

“It hosted historic meetings, celebrated milestones, and created cherished memories for countless families. It was, without question, the pride of Ibadan and the heartbeat of South-Western hospitality.”