President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday blamed opposition politicians and previous administrations for the hunger and poverty facing Nigerians, saying his government is working to reverse years of economic mismanagement.
Speaking at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna, Tinubu said those criticising his administration over the country’s economic challenges were responsible for creating the problems.
“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. But who created these problems? They created them, and we are working to eradicate them,” he said.
The president urged Nigerians to renew his mandate in the January 2027 presidential election, assuring them that his administration would consolidate on what he described as ongoing economic recovery efforts.
According to him, his government has laid the foundation for prosperity, growth and opportunities for citizens, especially young people.
“We have prosperity, consistency, growth, recovery and opportunities for our people,” Tinubu said, dismissing criticisms from political opponents.
He thanked Kaduna residents for supporting him during the 2023 presidential election and appealed to them to vote for him again as well as other APC candidates contesting various elective positions.
“Your prosperity is here. Your future is in your hands. Your fingerprints on the ballot will determine it. Be careful and watch out for those who want to mislead you,” he said.
Tinubu also defended his administration’s decision to remove fuel subsidy, insisting that the policy was necessary to tackle corruption and economic leakages.
“What is past is past. Fuel subsidy is behind us. We are working towards ending corruption, falsification of invoices, dishonesty and the smuggling of goods,” he said.
The president pledged continued support for programmes aimed at improving the welfare and future prospects of Nigerian youths.
He also commended governors elected on the platform of the APC, saying they were delivering development and paying workers’ salaries regularly.
Earlier, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani urged residents of the state to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, citing federal government interventions in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and security.
Sani said the Tinubu administration had fulfilled key promises made to Kaduna people during the 2023 campaign, particularly the reconstruction of the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road and efforts to improve security along the corridor.
According to him, N178 billion has been released for the rehabilitation of the 123-kilometre road, which he said had remained abandoned for more than four decades.
“Today, you can travel to Birnin Gwari without a police escort. That is progress, Mr President, and we thank you for it,” he said.
The governor added that over 300 schools and more than 150 primary healthcare centres previously shut due to insecurity had resumed operations.
He further disclosed that approval had been secured for the proposed Kaduna metropolitan red-line rail project, while the North-West region received N84 billion through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), benefiting about 414,000 students.
Sani said the achievements underscored the need for continuity, urging Kaduna voters to back Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.