Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has stated that security in the Middle Belt region has seen significant progress under the administration of President Bola Tinubu. He pointed to better travel conditions on the Abuja-Kaduna highway as proof of these developments.
Dogara spoke to journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja following a closed-door meeting between President Tinubu and a delegation headed by elder statesman and former Defence Minister, Theophilus Danjuma, according to Punch. He explained that although complete victory cannot be declared yet, there has been measurable progress across the corridor compared to previous years when travellers faced extreme risks.
The former federal lawmaker recalled the notorious March 2022 train attack along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, in which armed men attacked a passenger train, killing eight people and abducting dozens more. He noted that such frequent violent disruptions have reduced substantially. Dogara also linked the improvements to the strategic appointment of Plateau State indigenes to key federal positions, which he said helped address long-running security concerns.
In addition to security discussions, Dogara disclosed that the delegation used the visit to build political support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. Dogara served four terms representing the Bogoro, Dass, and Tafawa Balewa federal constituency in Bauchi State, holding the position of Speaker between 2015 and 2019.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who also attended the meeting, shared updates on peace-building efforts in his state. He said local initiatives were starting to heal divides among different ethnic and religious communities. Mutfwang stated that young leaders are now holding peace dialogues independently without government intervention, describing the shift as an encouraging sign of grassroots reconciliation.
