President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has ruled out any return to the fuel subsidy regime, insisting that Nigeria must instead channel its resources into education, agriculture, infrastructure and other investments capable of securing the country’s future.
Tinubu stated this on Tuesday in Jigawa State during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign, even as he sought the support of Nigerians for a second term in office.
Tinubu noted that restoring subsidy would undermine the government’s ability to fund critical sectors and maintain infrastructure, insisting that the country’s scarce resources must be deployed to areas that would deliver long-term benefits.
“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.
According to Tinubu, the government would prioritise agriculture as part of efforts to reduce food prices and achieve food security, with plans to provide interest-free loans to small-scale farmers and subsidise agricultural production.
He announced plans to establish mechanised farming service centres in the six geopolitical zones, while universities would be encouraged to deepen research and development in agriculture.
“We have the arable land, we have the commitment, we have the people. We can feed ourselves and we’ll bring the food prices down to the minimum,” the President said.
He also promised increased investment in irrigation, mechanisation and value addition, saying the measures would help transform Nigeria’s agricultural potential into sustainable economic opportunities.
Tinubu linked the government’s decision to remove subsidy to its ability to undertake road construction and other infrastructure projects, arguing that the benefits of such investments were being felt by workers and businesses involved in the projects.
He said the administration was equally using education as a weapon against poverty, pointing to the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major component of its social investment programme.
According to him, funds recovered from irregularities by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as assets recovered from such activities, would be channelled into NELFUND to support the education of Nigerian youths.
The President also promised improvements in healthcare, electricity, housing and employment, saying the APC manifesto was designed as a roadmap for moving the country towards greater prosperity.
He said the government would expand health insurance coverage, improve hospitals and provide affordable housing and secure access to land.
Tinubu further announced that 20,000 additional teachers had been employed, while health insurance coverage had been expanded to more than 23 million Nigerians.
On electricity, he promised reliable power and a stronger industrial base, alongside greater support for small and medium-sized enterprises and increased opportunities for Nigerians to acquire skills and secure jobs.
The President also addressed the country’s security challenges, calling on citizens to cooperate with security agencies by sharing information about suspicious activities.
He said the government had strengthened the police and armed forces and was improving the welfare of personnel through better salaries, housing and other forms of support.
“We’ll conquer insecurity,” Tinubu declared, while urging Nigerians to regard their neighbours as partners in the fight against criminality.
The President used the occasion to commend Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, describing him as a hardworking leader who had delivered significant development in the state.
Tinubu urged the people of Jigawa to support Namadi’s bid for a second term, saying his administration had demonstrated commitment to making democracy beneficial to the people.
Earlier, APC Presidential Campaign Council Director-General, Abdul’aziz Yari, described Tinubu as a major contributor to the development and sustenance of democracy in Northern Nigeria.
Yari dismissed claims by opposition politicians that Tinubu wouldn’t receive support in the North, saying the turnout at the event was evidence of the President’s acceptance in the region.
He argued that Tinubu’s political record, including his support for politicians who later emerged victorious in elections, distinguished him from his opponents.
Yari challenged those describing themselves as “core Northerners” to show comparable records of supporting candidates from the grassroots to elective positions.
He said Tinubu had supported political actors in the North without seeking to personally benefit from their emergence, describing the President as a democrat who had contributed significantly to the growth of democratic participation.
Yari expressed confidence that Tinubu’s political journey would culminate in another successful electoral victory, attributing the campaign team’s prospects to divine favour.
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