President Bola Tinubu has declared that his administration will not restore the petrol subsidy regime.
President Tinubu insists that Nigeria cannot continue sacrificing resources meant for the education of its children and long-term development to sustain consumption subsidies.
Tinubu also announce plans to introduce interest-free loans for small-scale farmers and establish agricultural mechanisation service centres across the country’s six geopolitical zones as part of measures to boost food production, reduce prices and improve the livelihoods of rural communities.
Speaking on Tuesday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, Tinubu dismissed suggestions that the government might reverse the subsidy removal, maintaining that the policy had freed resources for critical investments in education, agriculture, infrastructure and other sectors of the economy.
He argued that returning to the previous subsidy arrangement would undermine the government’s ability to finance development projects and secure better opportunities for future generations.
To those who say subsidy is coming back, it is a lie. Don’t let them lie to you again. It is not going to come back.
We cannot spend the future of our children today and expect them to have something tomorrow. They have to be in school. We have to invest in their education. We have to invest in agriculture”, the President declared.
Tinubu, who formally launched the APC’s manifesto for the 2027 presidential election later in the evening, said the administration was determined to consolidate its economic reforms while introducing measures to improve living standards and expand opportunities for Nigerians.
Before addressing the campaign rally, the President commissioned projects executed by the Jigawa State Government, including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Multipurpose Skills Acquisition Centre and a three-kilometre stretch of the 15-kilometre Police-to-Palace Road network, both in Dutse.
Outlining his administration’s agricultural development plans, Tinubu announced that smallholder farmers would benefit from interest-free credit facilities designed to expand production and ease the financial burden of farming.
He said the proposed mechanisation service centres would improve farmers’ access to modern equipment, while increased investment in irrigation, agricultural research and development would help improve productivity and strengthen food security.
“We will subsidise farming. We will reward small-scale farmers. Interest-free loans for farmers are coming. Prosperity is coming. Food security will happen.
“We are going to install mechanised farming service centres in six geographical locations”, he said.
The President explained that universities would be encouraged to play a greater role in agricultural research, particularly in developing solutions to challenges affecting food production and the efficient utilisation of farmland.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria possessed sufficient arable land, manpower and agricultural potential to achieve food self-sufficiency if the necessary investments and support systems were provided.
“We have the arable land, we have the labour, we have the commitment, we have the people. We can feed ourselves, and we will bring food prices down.
“I promise you greater investment in agriculture, mechanisation, irrigation and the productive use of our arable land”, he assured the gathering.
On national security, Tinubu acknowledged the challenges facing parts of the country but maintained that his administration was strengthening security institutions and improving the welfare of personnel to enhance their capacity to combat terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities.
He urged Nigerians to complement the efforts of security agencies by sharing useful intelligence and cooperating with their neighbours to identify and report threats.
“I know we have problems of insecurity in Nigeria, but working together, seeing your neighbour as your friend and partner, exchanging information and reporting anything you know about insecurity immediately will help us.
“I promise you, we are working hard to ensure that Nigeria is safe and our armed forces are well taken care of.
“We will conquer insecurity. We have been through many wars. We will defeat our enemies, the enemies of unity, stability and hope”, the President declared.
He said his administration had strengthened the police and armed forces and improved personnel remuneration, adding that the government would continue investing in their welfare and operational effectiveness.
Turning to education, Tinubu described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a critical intervention designed to break the cycle of poverty by ensuring that financial hardship did not deprive young Nigerians of higher education.
“NELFUND is a weapon against poverty. We will continue in that direction”, he said.
The President also spoke of directing proceeds from funds and assets recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) towards supporting education through the student loan scheme.
He maintained that investment in human capital was essential to the country’s future and must take precedence over expenditure that did not create enduring economic value.
On infrastructure, Tinubu cited the ongoing Sokoto–Badagry Highway project as evidence of his administration’s commitment to improving transportation networks and strengthening economic integration across the country.
He said road construction and rehabilitation projects were also sustaining jobs and businesses in the construction industry, including suppliers of materials and other service providers.
The President questioned how such commitments could be maintained if the government returned to the previous subsidy regime.
“How will you pay for those commitments? How will you repair the roads? How will you maintain them?” he asked.
Unveiling the APC’s 2027 presidential campaign manifesto later in the evening, Tinubu described the document as the party’s roadmap to prosperity, with commitments covering security, economic development, healthcare, education, electricity, housing and employment.
“Today, we present to you our roadmap to prosperity, the manifesto of our party”, he announced.
The President promised improved healthcare delivery, including the rehabilitation and equipping of hospitals, broader health insurance coverage and better access to medical services.
He also pledged to address Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges, saying the country required a more dependable power supply to sustain industrial growth, support businesses and improve household welfare.
“We will provide reliable power, not the old privatisation that is not working. We will provide you with reliable power in this Nigeria”, he said.
Tinubu further promised stronger support for nano, small and medium-scale enterprises through initiatives intended to expand economic opportunities, encourage entrepreneurship and promote job creation.
He said the government would intensify skills development programmes to equip young Nigerians with the capabilities required to participate meaningfully in the economy.
“We will stimulate a stronger industrial base in our country. We will help nano, small-scale and medium-scale businesses. We will expand job opportunities and develop skills”, he stated.
Other commitments outlined by the President included the recruitment of 20,000 additional teachers, expansion of health insurance beyond its current coverage of more than 23 million people, provision of affordable housing and improved land security.
The President also pledged responsible and accountable governance, assuring Nigerians that his administration would continue working towards a more prosperous and secure country.
“I once again launch the manifesto of our party to the glory of God Almighty and the prosperity of Nigeria”, he declared.
Earlier, Tinubu praised Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, for what he described as remarkable achievements in infrastructure development, youth empowerment and public service delivery.
The President said he had visited Jigawa on several occasions over the years but was particularly impressed by the scale of development recorded under the current administration.
“Jigawa, I have been here a number of years. I have never seen so much progress being made by one man. That is Governor Umar Namadi.
“He has worked so tirelessly and hard for all of us to benefit from the dividends of democracy”, Tinubu said.
He commended Namadi for establishing the multipurpose skills acquisition centre, describing the project as a demonstration of the governor’s commitment to preparing young people for productive employment and economic independence.
“On my way here from the airport, we commissioned the Skills Development Centre. Congratulations to Umar Namadi for thinking about the future of our youth, for believing in our youth and for his vision”, he said.
Tinubu also expressed appreciation to the people of Jigawa for their reception and continued support, while acknowledging the contributions of governors and other party leaders from different parts of the country.
He stressed the importance of national unity and cooperation, saying the APC remained committed to pursuing development across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
“We are one country, one people, together with the same dream and commitment”, he declared.
Among the dignitaries acknowledged by the President were Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, governors, former governors, ministers, National Assembly members and leaders of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration would sustain efforts to improve security, expand economic opportunities and ensure that the benefits of ongoing reforms translated into better living conditions.
