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From Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Romanus Ugwu, J and Idu Jude, Abuja
Minister in President Bola Tinubu’s administration have expressed confidence that the Federal Government’s economic reforms and ongoing infrastructure development will translate into improved living conditions for Nigerians and strengthen the President’s chances of securing a second term in 2027.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and his Solid Minerals Development counterpart, Dele Alake, said the removal of petrol subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange market were laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity, while Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, declared that the scale of infrastructure development under Tinubu would make it difficult for opposition parties to defeat him in the next presidential election.
The ministers spoke at separate engagements in Abuja, yesterday, with Bagudu and Alake defending the administration’s economic policies at the unveiling of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 presidential election manifesto, tagged ‘From Reforms to Prosperity’, while Wike inspected ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT and intensified political mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election.
Bagudu, who chairs the APC 2027 Manifesto Unveiling Committee, acknowledged that the administration had yet to achieve its objective of ensuring that ordinary Nigerians felt the benefits of its economic policies, but maintained that the reforms had begun to produce encouraging results.
He said Tinubu was conscious of the hardship facing Nigerians, particularly hardworking citizens and vulnerable groups, and remained determined to ensure that improvements in economic indicators translated into greater opportunities, increased prosperity and better living conditions.
“All of us, the Ministers, alongside the Vice President, have reason to be proud of the last Nigerian Economic Summit. This is because the private sector unanimously acknowledged that Mr President had delivered on the promises he made.
“They are doing well, announcing investments in Nigeria commensurate with what he promised and what he has delivered. But, as we all know, even before anybody tells him, Mr President acknowledges that we have done well.
“However, until we deliver and ensure that every Nigerian feels the impact of prosperity, especially hardworking Nigerians and those who need support, we still have work to do,” he said.
The minister maintained that Nigeria was recording sustained economic growth, declining inflation and signs of improvement in the foreign exchange market, although he admitted that more needed to be done to ensure that the gains were reflected in the everyday experiences of citizens.
He said the President had repeatedly challenged members of his economic team to extend the benefits of government policies across different sectors, insisting that the administration’s ultimate objective was to transform Nigeria into a major global economy.
“For Mr President, if Brazil can become a $2 trillion economy, why can’t Nigeria? So, Mr President, without being influenced by any outsider, said we should confront our reality and address these challenges. As I have said, he was not concerned about the next election but about prosperity.
“Indeed, we are seeing the benefits of having a leader who has a profound understanding of what Nigeria can become and is courageous enough to lead us towards that reality.”
Bagudu said recalled how Tinubu, during his presidential campaign in Zamfara State, directed a State House official to assist a struggling carrot seller whose business had suffered poor sales, describing the gesture as evidence of the President’s concern for ordinary Nigerians.
He maintained that the APC manifesto was intended to consolidate the reforms already introduced while providing a broader framework for economic expansion, job creation and improved welfare.
“But Mr President has been humble enough to acknowledge that, in addition to all the initiatives we have introduced to extend prosperity to various sectors of the economy, his team must do more.
“I just want to assure you that all of us, particularly those of us working for Mr President, are proud believers in his strategies. We believe in them, not against our wishes. We own them, and that is something other parties do not have,” he stated.
Alake, who also serves as spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, defended the administration’s economic policies, describing Tinubu’s decision to remove petrol subsidy and unify the foreign exchange market as evidence of exceptional political courage.
He argued that the President had placed national interest above personal political considerations by confronting longstanding economic distortions despite the hardship and public dissatisfaction associated with the decisions.
“Regardless of the political consequences, or even the President’s own political situation and aspirations, he carried out genuine structural reforms. And that is the kind of person Bola Tinubu is. He does not think of himself; he thinks of the nation, and that is what a statesman should do.
“Ordinary politicians will think of the next election and avoid contentious policies that could probably mar their political aspirations. But not President Bola Tinubu, because he puts the nation ahead of himself.”
Alake alleged that powerful individuals and groups had exploited the former fuel subsidy regime through smuggling, fraudulent claims and other illicit practices, maintaining that beneficiaries of the arrangement continued to resist its removal.
“It takes a man of courage, a man of grit, brains and brawn, to withstand the pressure of the cabal, which would fight back, and they are fighting back over the removal of fuel subsidy.”
He also criticised the previous multiple exchange rate system, alleging that politically connected individuals had accumulated enormous wealth through preferential access to foreign exchange without contributing to productive economic activities.
“With just a phone call, they would obtain millions of dollars at the official rate and, without leaving their seats in their gardens, send the money to the Bureau de Change. In the twinkle of an eye, they would become billionaires while sitting in their backyards, making no contribution to production in the economy to shore up the naira.”
Alake maintained that the reforms were designed to eliminate economic distortions and create a more sustainable foundation for national development, notwithstanding the difficulties Nigerians had experienced since their introduction.
Meanwhile, Wike said the administration’s infrastructure record, particularly in Abuja, had provided sufficient evidence of Tinubu’s performance to make the opposition’s challenge in 2027 difficult.
The FCT minister spoke after inspecting ongoing projects, including bridges on the Interchange Southern Expressway (ISEX) 2, linking Area 1 Roundabout to Games Village; the Southern Parkway, connecting Oladipo Diya Road with Ring Road II; and Arterial Road S1, linking Ring Road II to the FCT Fire Service Station in the Kaura and Gaduwa districts.
“So you can see clearly that it would be difficult to unseat the President today because the report card is obvious in terms of what he has done.
“Like I told you, this is our campaign. People ask what we are going to campaign with, but we have so many visible achievements all around us.
“There is no way residents of Abuja will see the kind of infrastructure we have provided and say they are not happy with the achievements of Mr President. It is second to none.”
Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace of construction, particularly on the Southern Parkway, saying the level of work achieved within six to seven months demonstrated the administration’s commitment to delivering infrastructure projects.
He disclosed that the FCT Administration was working towards commissioning at least 10 major projects before the 2027 general elections.
The minister also promised to lobby Tinubu for the creation of two additional senatorial districts and six federal constituencies for the FCT to address what he described as inadequate legislative representation of the territory.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Sun, Stephen Abraham Ajiya, Director of the Senator Philip T. Aduda support group, said Wike made the commitment during a political engagement in Kwali Area Council, where he indicated that he would approach the President to seek an executive bill to the National Assembly.
Ajiya quoted Wike as saying: “Truth is truth. I wonder why some people are afraid to speak the truth. You people in the FCT have been cheated. How can you have only one Senator, when smaller states have three? How can a population of over six million people be represented by only two House members? This is not right and Mr. President will correct this.”
Ajiya commended the proposal, saying additional legislative seats would strengthen the representation of original inhabitants and other residents of the territory.
“Indeed, in Tinubu our hope has been renewed. Our status as citizens of Nigeria has greatly improved. With more seats in the parliament, the voice of the original inhabitants and residents will be fully represented,” he said.
At the Abaji Area Council Rainbow Coalition and Stakeholders’ Meeting, Wike also took a swipe at the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, alleging that the former Anambra State governor would flee to Cameroon rather than confront Nigeria’s challenges if elected president.
He contrasted Obi with Tinubu, whom he praised for taking difficult decisions, arguing that the presidency required courage and the willingness to confront national problems rather than abandon responsibility when difficulties arose.
Wike challenged political leaders across the FCT to demonstrate their support for Tinubu through electoral performance, insisting that declarations of loyalty would mean little without corresponding votes.
“Let me repeat what I said yesterday. To the people of Abaji, through their chairman, councillors and leaders, you come from different wards. You have told me you will vote for Tinubu. I have no problem with that. I want to see it.”
He declared that the FCT must compete with Rivers State in delivering votes for Tinubu in 2027, promising to deploy the same political mobilisation strategy in both places.
“Nobody is competing with Rivers. I don’t know what you all think. The only people who are going to compete with Rivers are the FCT. Whatever I will do there, I will do it here. So make sure you beat Rivers,” he said.
The minister urged traditional rulers, political leaders, women and youths to intensify mobilisation across the six area councils, while criticising elected representatives who, according to him, had failed to maintain contact with their constituents after securing their mandates in 2023.
He also reiterated his determination to address the electricity challenge confronting Abaji before the 2027 elections, directing the area council chairman to intensify efforts towards restoring power supply.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, who accompanied Wike on the inspection tour, described the pace of infrastructure development in Abuja as unprecedented, saying even the FCT minister’s fiercest critics could not deny the transformation taking place in the nation’s capital.
“I have been in Abuja for about 19 years now. I came to Abuja in 2007, when I was elected senator, and I have been here, and the level of development we have seen in Abuja is unprecedented.
“Those of you who are journalists in Abuja can attest to the fact that even if you don’t like the FCT minister, you will give it to him that he will do the infrastructure, that even you too will benefit from.”
Lokpobiri expressed surprise at the progress recorded on some of the roads and bridges, particularly those whose construction commenced only in July, saying he had been unaware of an ongoing bridge project barely two kilometres from his residence at the National Assembly quarters in Apo.
“I want to tell Nigerians that, look, when somebody is performing, you need to encourage the person. That is the least that you can do.
“Even if you don’t like him, you will give it to him that he has changed the landscape of Abuja, and it can only get better and better,” he added.
