President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ruled out any return to fuel subsidy, insisting that the removal of the policy has placed Nigeria’s economy on a path to growth despite the hardship experienced by citizens.
Tinubu made the declaration on Monday during a meeting with members of the City Boy Movement (CBM) and other youth support groups at the State House in Abuja.
The President criticised opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over their stated intentions to restore fuel subsidy if elected in 2027.
He maintained that reversing the policy would amount to taking the country backwards after his administration had implemented what he described as difficult but necessary economic reforms.
Drawing an analogy from the biblical account of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Tinubu said Nigeria must remain committed to its current economic direction rather than return to policies he believes were unsustainable.
“You cannot ask Moses to go back to Egypt,” the President said, stressing that the country could not afford to abandon the reforms.
Tinubu explained that his administration inherited significant economic challenges, including financial obligations to foreign airlines, depleted foreign reserves and a monetary system he said relied excessively on printing money.
He argued that the previous subsidy regime placed an unsustainable burden on public finances, making its removal necessary to prevent further economic difficulties.
The President acknowledged the hardship associated with the reforms but expressed confidence that measures introduced in taxation, public finance and other sectors were beginning to produce positive results.
He also urged Nigerians to assess the promises of opposition politicians critically and determine whether their proposals offered practical solutions to the country’s economic challenges.
Tinubu Highlights Youth Empowerment Programmes
The President used the meeting to highlight his administration’s youth-focused initiatives, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP).
He said more than one million students had benefited from NELFUND, which was established to expand access to tertiary education.
Tinubu also said CREDICORP was designed to help working Nigerians access credit to purchase essential assets, while the 3MTT programme aimed to equip young people with digital and technical skills.
He reaffirmed his commitment to reducing disruptions to university academic calendars, insisting that students should be able to complete their courses within the stipulated periods.
The President urged the youth groups to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election, encouraging them to engage voters in communities, markets, campuses and workplaces.
He also called on eligible young Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate actively in the electoral process.
“You are not simply campaigning for me. You are campaigning for your own future,” Tinubu told the gathering.
City Boy Movement Targets 10 Million Youth Votes
The Director-General of the City Boy Movement, Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, said the organisation was targeting at least 10 million youth votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Shoga said the movement had registered approximately 4.6 million members and reached more than 50,000 young Nigerians through engagements across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
He added that the organisation was expanding its structures across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, local government areas, wards and polling units.
According to him, the movement would intensify door-to-door campaigns, community outreach and voter education to promote Tinubu’s policies and programmes.
The Director-General of the Relax, Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria Movement, Ahmed Bala, also claimed that his organisation had documented more than 340 achievements of the administration and attracted over three million members within two weeks.
The figures presented by the two organisations were claims made by their respective leaders.
Abbas, Barau Advocate Accountability and AI-Driven Campaigns
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, announced plans to introduce an accountability initiative known as the PBAT Stewardship Account to provide Nigerians with information on government projects, interventions and legislative achievements.
Abbas said he planned to present details of selected interventions, including their locations, financial values and implementation status, alongside a scorecard of the 10th House of Representatives.
He urged political officeholders to publish regular accounts of their stewardship to enable citizens to assess their performance.
Meanwhile, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau called on the City Boy Movement to use artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to educate young Nigerians about government policies, political developments and the records of public officeholders.
Barau said AI-powered platforms could provide interactive question-and-answer features to help voters examine political claims and make informed decisions.
He also urged the movement to explain how international conflicts and geopolitical tensions could affect Nigeria’s economy, particularly energy prices, transportation costs and household expenditure.
Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande described the gathering as evidence of growing youth participation in politics and commended Tinubu for creating opportunities for younger Nigerians to participate in governance.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, other senior government officials and representatives of youth support groups.
Comments