President Bola Tinubu has again assured Nigerians of stable power supply, economic revitalization, and job creation if re-elected for a second term in 2027.
Daily Trust reports that improving power infrastructure was a central pledge of Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign, during which he challenged voters to hold his administration accountable for energy sector improvements.
Speaking on the same issue on Tuesday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, Tinubu outlined his administration’s plan to lower the cost of living, drive industrial growth, and overhaul the nation’s energy sector.
Addressing supporters, the president pledged to address longstanding structural challenges in the power sector, criticizing past privatization efforts that failed to yield consistent electricity across the country.
“We will reduce the cost of living. We will provide reliable power, not the whole privatization that is not working,” Tinubu declared. “We will provide you with reliable power in this Nigeria.”
Tinubu highlighted economic support for small businesses as a primary driver for job creation and national development.
“We will stimulate a stronger industrial base for our country. We will help nano, small-scale, and medium-scale businesses. We will expand job opportunities for real income earners,” he said.
The president’s remarks on power come amidst ongoing electricity challenges in several states.
Power Minister Joseph Tegbe previously attributed recent supply disruptions to maintenance work at the Egbin power station, gas supply shortages, and acts of vandalism on transmission lines
President Tinubu also said the federal government would not reverse its decision on fuel subsidy removal.
He insisted that bringing back the subsidy would jeopardise the future of Nigerian children.
”To those who say subsidy is coming back, it’s a lie. Don’t let them lie to you again. It’s not going to come back,” he said.
The president said resources previously spent on fuel subsidy would instead be channelled into education, agriculture and infrastructure development.
He pledged interest-free loans for smallholder farmers and announced plans to establish mechanised farming service centres across the country’s six geopolitical zones to boost food production and reduce food prices.
”We have to invest in agriculture. There will be interest-free loans for farmers. Prosperity is coming. Food security will happen,” he said.
Tinubu also assured Nigerians that his administration was taking decisive steps to tackle insecurity, urging citizens to support security agencies by reporting suspicious activities.
”We are working hard to ensure that Nigeria is safe. We will conquer insecurity. We will defeat the enemies of unity, stability and hope,” he said.
The president said the government had strengthened security agencies through improved welfare and better remuneration for personnel.
On education, Tinubu said funds recovered from corruption-related cases by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would be channelled into the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to support access to education and reduce poverty.
He described NELFUND as “our weapon against poverty” and promised continued investment in human capital development.
The President also promised soft loans to the farmers to boost agriculture.
ADC – PCC accuses Tinubu of recycling failed promises
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign, saying the
President’s outing in Kaduna, Rivers and Jigawa states were dominated by personal attacks and recycled promises, offering nothing new to Nigerians.
ADC also described the campaign messages as divisive, vague, uninspiring and devoid of any credible account of his administration’s performance.
The Council said rather than present a comprehensive scorecard of his three-and-a-half years in office, Tinubu had resorted to political tantrums, name-calling and verbal attacks against opponents.
“Instead, the President’s campaign outings in Kaduna, Rivers and Jigawa states were dominated by personal attacks and recycled promises, offering nothing new to Nigerians.” the ADC campaign said.
The ADC-PCC particularly challenged Tinubu to account for his much-publicised electricity pledge: “If I don’t give you electricity, don’t vote for me for a second term.”
According to the Council, the President has failed to fulfil that promise, even as millions of Nigerians continue to endure unreliable electricity supply, while he has reportedly invested in alternative power arrangements for his personal comfort.
