President Bola Tinubu has renewed his promises to improve electricity supply, revitalise the economy and create jobs if re-elected for a second term in the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu made the pledge on Tuesday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, where he outlined plans to reduce the cost of living, strengthen industrial growth and address longstanding challenges in the power sector.
Improving electricity supply was a major promise of Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign, during which he challenged Nigerians to hold him accountable for his administration’s performance in the energy sector.
Addressing supporters in Dutse, the President criticised previous privatisation efforts in the electricity sector, arguing that they had failed to guarantee reliable power supply across the country.
“We will reduce the cost of living. We will provide reliable power, not the whole privatisation that is not working. We will provide you with reliable power in this Nigeria,” he said.
Tinubu identified support for small businesses as a key driver of job creation and economic development, promising to strengthen the country’s industrial base and expand opportunities for businesses of different sizes.
“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.
His renewed electricity pledge comes amid persistent power supply challenges across several parts of the country. Power Minister Joseph Tegbe had previously attributed some supply disruptions to maintenance work at the Egbin power station, gas shortages and vandalism of transmission infrastructure.
The President also ruled out a return to fuel subsidy payments, insisting that reversing the policy would undermine the country’s future.
“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.
Tinubu said resources previously spent on fuel subsidy would instead be channelled into critical sectors, including education, agriculture and infrastructure.
On agriculture, he promised 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 the cost of food.
“We have to invest in agriculture. There will be interest-free loans for farmers. Prosperity is coming. Food security will happen,” he said.
READ ALSO: Campaign Promises, Courtroom Battles and Nigeria’s Democratic Test
The President also assured Nigerians that his administration was working 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.
He added that the government had strengthened security agencies through improved welfare and better remuneration for personnel.
On education, Tinubu said funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from corruption-related cases would be channelled into the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to expand access to education and reduce poverty.
Describing NELFUND as “our weapon against poverty”, the President pledged to sustain investment in human capital development.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has criticised Tinubu’s re-election campaign, accusing him of recycling unfulfilled promises and failing to present a convincing account of his administration’s performance.
In a statement, the council said the President’s campaign appearances in Kaduna, Rivers and Jigawa states had been dominated by personal attacks and repeated promises rather than concrete plans to address the country’s challenges.
The ADC-PCC described the campaign messages as divisive, vague and uninspiring, arguing that Tinubu had failed to provide a comprehensive scorecard of his three-and-a-half years in office.
The council accused the President of resorting to name-calling and verbal attacks against political opponents instead of explaining his administration’s achievements.
“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 council said.
The opposition group also challenged Tinubu to account for his widely publicised electricity pledge during the 2023 campaign, when he said Nigerians should not re-elect him if he failed to improve power supply.
According to the ADC-PCC, the President has failed to fulfil that commitment, leaving millions of Nigerians to contend with unreliable electricity supply.
The council further alleged that Tinubu had invested in alternative power arrangements for his personal comfort while Nigerians continued to experience inadequate electricity supply.