The leading contenders in Nigeria’s presidential election face a defining question: should the fuel subsidy be restored to ease the burden of rising energy costs?
President Bola Tinubu, who is seeking a second term in January, has repeatedly defended his decision to scrap a years-long subsidy program in 2023 to avoid wasteful spending and invest in infrastructure development. But his government’s introduction of a short-term petrol price discount this month to counter rising costs driven by the Iran war has reignited the debate as to whether a subsidy would make a more lasting return.
Tinubu’s main rivals say they plan to restore some form of consumer support if elected and have accused the president of panicking in the face of pressure to account for his decision, with polls opening in less than 100 days. SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based advisory firm, found in a survey published in September that more than two-thirds of voters want the government to reinstate a fuel subsidy of some kind. Insecurity, which has worsened around the country, is also set to figure as a major point of contention.
The revived subsidy debate is shaping just about every conversation concerning the coming vote in Africa’s biggest democracy. Tinubu and his 17 challengers are hitting the campaign trail to sway voters whose collective purchasing power has weakened sharply in the last three years, in large part due to the five-fold rise in fuel prices in that period which has driven inflation and spawned a cost-of-living crisis. Its resurgence reflects Nigeria’s history as the continent’s top oil producer and exporter that has consistently failed to convert its energy riches into broad-based prosperity.
For years, the vast majority of the crude oil produced in the country was exported because none of the government’s domestic refineries were fully functional. Imported refined products were then subsidized by payments from the state-oil company NNPC, enabling a multibillion-dollar largesse that grew into an increasingly opaque and corrupt scheme, according to government fact-finders and international observers. It was also costly: The program’s $10 billion in 2022 exceeded the combined budget for healthcare and education.
Tinubu has largely not faced widespread protests or strong political opposition since ending the subsidy. He has told Nigerians that his policy approach is shifting from offering “emergency treatment” — ostensibly to fix the faulty foundations of the economy he inherited — to enabling shared prosperity.
But in Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, he faces familiar challengers who are eager to make the coming election a referendum on the impact of energy costs. “Bola made life expensive. I will work to make life affordable again,” Atiku said in a campaign video last week. Obi, the other heavyweight in the race, pledged to judge his leadership by metrics that would show Nigerians “eating better, living better, and escaping poverty.”
The sharp rise in energy costs that followed Tinubu’s subsidy removal led several businesses to shutter or reconsider operations in Nigeria. But while many questioned the absence of safety net measures to cushion the impact of Tinubu’s so-called shock therapy, the International Monetary Fund praised the subsidy removal, as did several economists. An IMF official last week cautioned Nigeria to avoid the temptation of reinstating a subsidy for political reasons.
The Dangote refinery in Lagos, which started supplying fuel in Nigeria two years ago, provides about 70% of Nigeria’s domestic fuel needs. But the country still imports refined fuels. Both Dangote — which buys more than a third of its crude from international suppliers — and fuel importers are vulnerable to global oil price shocks.
The potential for further escalation in the Iran war, underscored by recent Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, raises the question of how long Nigeria is prepared to extend the price cap that is initially planned to be in place for 30-days. “I think it’s highly likely that this gets extended, at least through the elections into Q1,” said Ikemesit Effiong, a partner at SBM.
BMI, a subsidiary of Fitch Group, expects the price cap to amount to up to 0.4% of Nigeria’s gross domestic product by the second quarter of next year.
Nigeria’s subsidy debates are divisive because the program — once seen by many Nigerians as the only benefit they got from the state — has swallowed historically mammoth sums and is inextricably associated with corruption and state capture by a cabal of favored oil traders.
Many analysts say Nigeria’s fuel subsidy burdened public finances and encouraged adverse behaviors like fuel smuggling. Together with changes that allowed the naira currency to float freely by market forces, Tinubu’s subsidy removal helped to improve Nigeria’s fiscal stability and strengthen reserves.
But trialling a short-term fuel price cap points to a government reckoning with the pain it has inflicted. “The removal of the fuel subsidy has been economically necessary, but socially painful,” Jervin Nadioo, an analyst at Oxford Economics Africa, told me. He believes Tinubu is “well positioned to secure re-election” but growing public frustration over living costs suggests that an improved economic picture has not translated into sufficient relief for households.
Stop-gaps and sweeteners may sway some voters towards Tinubu in January. But it is more likely that the difficulties of the last three years have already hardened views about the candidates.
The battle for political advantage ahead of elections should not obscure a reasonable expectation that governments can intervene to soften the pain of citizens, said Vahyala Kwaga, country head for Nigeria at policy research group BudgIT.
“Anything that can alleviate the hardship that the masses suffered from the day it was announced that the subsidy is gone is certainly welcome,” Kwaga said. Ultimately, though, his concern is with transparency and accountability: “Who is going to be held responsible if the subsidy doesn’t work?”
By Alexander Onukwue, SEMAFOR
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Monday, October 19, 2026
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Video - Trade Wars, Fighting Corruption and Rethinking Globalization
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala spent her early career fighting corruption, at great personal cost. Today, she leads the World Trade Organization at a time of unprecedented disruption. On this episode of Leaders, she speaks with Francine Lacqua about her work in Nigeria and how it led to her mother's abduction, how the US trade war and geopolitics are putting tremendous strain on global trade and why it’s time to re-imagine globalization.
What drives the world’s most influential minds? In Leaders with Francine Lacqua, Bloomberg’s award-winning anchor sits down with the decision-makers shaping our future to explore the personal stories behind their public personas. Discover what inspires them, how they navigate power and the lessons they offer on defining success. Insightful, cinematic and elegantly crafted, Leaders goes beyond the headlines to reveal the human side of leadership.
Monday, October 12, 2026
President Tinubu vows to expand cash transfers
President Bola Tinubu has applauded the latest World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update, noting that the findings are a testament to the fact that the country’s economic reforms are bearing fruit.
In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy, on Sunday, Mr Tinubu said the update shows his administration’s reforms have put the economy on a sound footing for sustained growth.
Since taking office in 2023, Mr Tinubu has pursued an array of reforms aimed at speeding up economic growth in Africa’s most populous country.
Those reforms include removal of costly fuel subsidies, unification of exchange rates, revamp of the nation’s tax system and recapitalisation of the banking and insurance sectors.
In the report issued last Thursday, the World Bank observed that the economy expanded by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, up from 3.9 per cent in the same period of last year, despite the sweeping impact of the Middle East crisis.
It projected the country’s growth to average at least 4.4 per cent this year through 2028.
The World Bank expects inflation, which fell from 27.6 per cent in January 2025 to 15.2 per cent in December 2025, to ease to about 12 per cent by 2028.
Nigeria’s current account surplus rose to $12 billion or 7 per cent of GDP in the first half of 2026, up from $8.6 billion a year earlier, while gross external reserves advanced from $45.5 billion at the end of 2025 to $53.8 billion at the end of August 2026.
The report stated that the reforms have helped raise the federation revenue by 69 per cent in real terms between 2023 and 2025, with states as the largest beneficiaries.
It also noted that Nigeria’s internally generated revenue grew in real terms in 31 of 35 states, with 21 states cutting back their debt-to-GDP ratio between 2021 and 2025. It expects Nigeria’s overall public debt to fall from 40 per cent of GDP in 2025 to 38.1 per cent in 2026.
Mr Tinubu said states used the additional resources to increase capital spending by 151 per cent in real terms over the same period, while much of the increase went to roads and other transport, agriculture, energy and housing.
He added that 29 states shifted their spending towards economic infrastructure, while real social spending per person rose in all but one state.
“These findings confirm that the difficult but necessary decisions to remove the petrol subsidy, unify the foreign exchange market and strengthen fiscal discipline have raised revenues, stabilised the economy and created fiscal space for every tier of government to invest in its people,” Mr Tinubu said.
He vowed that his administration will work more to ensure that the reforms fully translate into better living standards for every Nigerian household, starting with lower food prices and decent jobs for young people.
“We will continue to expand targeted cash transfers, which have already reached more than 10 million households. We will accelerate the deployment of CNG, raise agricultural productivity, and improve access to affordable healthcare and quality education, so that the prosperity being created is shared by all,” he said.
He further urged state governments to deploy their increased revenues more prudently and prioritise projects that improve the health, education and living standards of Nigerians.
By Omotoyosi Idowu, Premium Times
In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy, on Sunday, Mr Tinubu said the update shows his administration’s reforms have put the economy on a sound footing for sustained growth.
Since taking office in 2023, Mr Tinubu has pursued an array of reforms aimed at speeding up economic growth in Africa’s most populous country.
Those reforms include removal of costly fuel subsidies, unification of exchange rates, revamp of the nation’s tax system and recapitalisation of the banking and insurance sectors.
In the report issued last Thursday, the World Bank observed that the economy expanded by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, up from 3.9 per cent in the same period of last year, despite the sweeping impact of the Middle East crisis.
It projected the country’s growth to average at least 4.4 per cent this year through 2028.
The World Bank expects inflation, which fell from 27.6 per cent in January 2025 to 15.2 per cent in December 2025, to ease to about 12 per cent by 2028.
Nigeria’s current account surplus rose to $12 billion or 7 per cent of GDP in the first half of 2026, up from $8.6 billion a year earlier, while gross external reserves advanced from $45.5 billion at the end of 2025 to $53.8 billion at the end of August 2026.
The report stated that the reforms have helped raise the federation revenue by 69 per cent in real terms between 2023 and 2025, with states as the largest beneficiaries.
It also noted that Nigeria’s internally generated revenue grew in real terms in 31 of 35 states, with 21 states cutting back their debt-to-GDP ratio between 2021 and 2025. It expects Nigeria’s overall public debt to fall from 40 per cent of GDP in 2025 to 38.1 per cent in 2026.
Mr Tinubu said states used the additional resources to increase capital spending by 151 per cent in real terms over the same period, while much of the increase went to roads and other transport, agriculture, energy and housing.
He added that 29 states shifted their spending towards economic infrastructure, while real social spending per person rose in all but one state.
“These findings confirm that the difficult but necessary decisions to remove the petrol subsidy, unify the foreign exchange market and strengthen fiscal discipline have raised revenues, stabilised the economy and created fiscal space for every tier of government to invest in its people,” Mr Tinubu said.
He vowed that his administration will work more to ensure that the reforms fully translate into better living standards for every Nigerian household, starting with lower food prices and decent jobs for young people.
“We will continue to expand targeted cash transfers, which have already reached more than 10 million households. We will accelerate the deployment of CNG, raise agricultural productivity, and improve access to affordable healthcare and quality education, so that the prosperity being created is shared by all,” he said.
He further urged state governments to deploy their increased revenues more prudently and prioritise projects that improve the health, education and living standards of Nigerians.
Friday, October 9, 2026
Nigeria looks to ease fuel prices as election looms
Nigeria's finance minister unveiled a raft of measures Thursday aimed at cushioning against energy shocks as the country prepares to go to the polls, including a petrol discount for public transport operators.
Africa's top oil producer hosts the continent's largest refinery, owned by Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote.
But fuel prices have risen to about 1,400 naira ($1.00) per litre from the 830 naira seen before the war in the Middle East, with the government doing little to rein in prices and instead deferring to the market.
Petrol had been even cheaper before President Bola Tinubu, seeking re-election in January, removed costly fuel subsidies at the beginning of his tenure -- turning the price at the pump into a major political hot potato.
Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele said the measures were aimed at easing pressure on households and businesses while avoiding a return to fuel subsidies.
"We are offering a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC Limited for the next 30 days, in the first instance, with priority for public transporters nationwide," Oyedele told journalists in Abuja.
NNPC, Nigeria's state oil company, runs a vast network of petrol stations across the country.
"It's not a subsidy. The government is just saying we sell to you at cost," he said, without specifying the price.
Tinubu, who is seeking a second term, pushed through sweeping economic reforms when he came into office in 2023, including scrapping a major fuel subsidy and floating the naira.
While economists have broadly backed the measures, they have driven up living costs and deepened hardship in Africa's most populous country.
Cheap petrol -- which in turn had driven down prices of food and goods throughout the country -- had for some been the most important government benefit they received amid decades of poor services and graft.
Tinubu has said the reforms averted an even greater crisis as the subsidy grew fiscally unsustainable.
Opposition criticism
The Nigeria Democratic Congress, fielding presidential contender Peter Obi, criticised Thursday's price relief measures as "attempt to re-introduce petrol subsidy through the backdoor".
Obi told AFP in an interview last month he would bring down consumer prices in part by cracking down on corruption.
Opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar meanwhile took to social media to ask: "What happens on Day 31? Nigerians wake up to the same brutal prices, the same punishing transport fares and the same rising cost of food."
Abubakar has floated a plan for a "targeted" subsidy, described as "capped and budgeted production support tied to fuel refined in Nigeria" to help bring down prices at the pump.
Longer term, Tinubu's government said it would also introduce what the minister called "price modulation" to moderate pump price volatility.
"Pump prices should not have to follow every swing in global crude or the exchange rates," Oyedele said, adding that the government was "negotiating a ceiling of 1,350 naira a litre".
"Where costs rise above the ceiling, refiners and importers will carry the shortfall and recover it later when crude prices or exchange rates allow without breaching the ceiling," he said,
He added that the policy was "neither a subsidy nor a price control" and the ceiling would be reviewed every month.
Nigerians go to the polls on January 16.
Africa's top oil producer hosts the continent's largest refinery, owned by Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote.
But fuel prices have risen to about 1,400 naira ($1.00) per litre from the 830 naira seen before the war in the Middle East, with the government doing little to rein in prices and instead deferring to the market.
Petrol had been even cheaper before President Bola Tinubu, seeking re-election in January, removed costly fuel subsidies at the beginning of his tenure -- turning the price at the pump into a major political hot potato.
Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele said the measures were aimed at easing pressure on households and businesses while avoiding a return to fuel subsidies.
"We are offering a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC Limited for the next 30 days, in the first instance, with priority for public transporters nationwide," Oyedele told journalists in Abuja.
NNPC, Nigeria's state oil company, runs a vast network of petrol stations across the country.
"It's not a subsidy. The government is just saying we sell to you at cost," he said, without specifying the price.
Tinubu, who is seeking a second term, pushed through sweeping economic reforms when he came into office in 2023, including scrapping a major fuel subsidy and floating the naira.
While economists have broadly backed the measures, they have driven up living costs and deepened hardship in Africa's most populous country.
Cheap petrol -- which in turn had driven down prices of food and goods throughout the country -- had for some been the most important government benefit they received amid decades of poor services and graft.
Tinubu has said the reforms averted an even greater crisis as the subsidy grew fiscally unsustainable.
Opposition criticism
The Nigeria Democratic Congress, fielding presidential contender Peter Obi, criticised Thursday's price relief measures as "attempt to re-introduce petrol subsidy through the backdoor".
Obi told AFP in an interview last month he would bring down consumer prices in part by cracking down on corruption.
Opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar meanwhile took to social media to ask: "What happens on Day 31? Nigerians wake up to the same brutal prices, the same punishing transport fares and the same rising cost of food."
Abubakar has floated a plan for a "targeted" subsidy, described as "capped and budgeted production support tied to fuel refined in Nigeria" to help bring down prices at the pump.
Longer term, Tinubu's government said it would also introduce what the minister called "price modulation" to moderate pump price volatility.
"Pump prices should not have to follow every swing in global crude or the exchange rates," Oyedele said, adding that the government was "negotiating a ceiling of 1,350 naira a litre".
"Where costs rise above the ceiling, refiners and importers will carry the shortfall and recover it later when crude prices or exchange rates allow without breaching the ceiling," he said,
He added that the policy was "neither a subsidy nor a price control" and the ceiling would be reviewed every month.
Nigerians go to the polls on January 16.
Friday, October 2, 2026
Video - Nigeria’s Tinubu hails economic reforms ahead of 2027 election
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended his economic reforms, pointing to stronger growth and falling inflation while acknowledging that challenges remain. As Nigeria heads toward another presidential election, the rising cost of living, poverty and insecurity remain key issues for voters.
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Video - President Tinubu Addresses Nigerians On 66th Independence Anniversary
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says Nigeria’s economy has recorded growth of over 4% this year, with contributions from both the oil and non-oil sectors. He highlights the performance as part of the country’s ongoing economic recovery and reform efforts.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Video - Nigeria fuel prices fuel cost-of-living concerns ahead of 2027 election
Rising fuel prices and the high cost of living are deepening economic concerns among Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election. Traders and drivers say higher transport and operating costs are squeezing their incomes and influencing how they view the government's economic record.
Monday, August 31, 2026
Video - Nigeria subsidy debate returns ahead of elections
As Nigeria prepares for general elections in January 2027, petrol subsidies have emerged as a key campaign issue. President Bola Tinubu’s government scrapped the subsidy in 2023, triggering a sharp rise in fuel prices. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has now pledged to reinstate petrol subsidies if elected president.
Nigeria’s worsening insecurity tests president’s second-term bid
The mass abduction of hundreds of people from mosques in northern Nigeria this month was at once shocking and yet unsurprising: The targeting of civilians by insurgents and bandits has surged compared to last year, and the three months through June were the most violent in at least three decades.
The latest attack comes on the heels of a retired army general's shocking death in captivity after being kidnapped on his way to a wedding, and the kidnap of more than a hundred other travelers in two separate events in the northwest.
President Bola Tinubu, who began a three-week vacation in Europe on Sunday, ordered an army and police rescue operation of the 600 people kidnapped in Niger state, but the episode comes at a crucial moment: He is in the midst of campaigning for reelection and while his team has trumpeted economic progress, it has been quieter about Nigeria's security situation.
Tinubu anchored his 2023 manifesto on grand national security promises of "a proactive and intelligence driven security approach," but he has mainly focused on fixing Nigeria's ailing economy in his first term. His team put out a scorecard this month of his three-year performance that focused on economic results.
"Certainly in the first couple of years of this administration, insecurity did not seem to be the priority," said James Barnett, a non-resident fellow at the Hudson Institute who has lived and researched conflict in Nigeria. "That doesn't mean there weren't security policies being implemented, but it was not really getting the top level engagement."
Leading opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, also Tinubu's main rivals ballot in 2023, have pledged to hire more people and "decentralize security management" to tackle insecurity, if elected. For his part, Tinubu has backed a law that will allow Nigerian states to set up their own police departments, and tasked a security committee with drafting a five-year "strategic defence operations plan."
By Alexander Onukwue, SEMAFOR
The latest attack comes on the heels of a retired army general's shocking death in captivity after being kidnapped on his way to a wedding, and the kidnap of more than a hundred other travelers in two separate events in the northwest.
President Bola Tinubu, who began a three-week vacation in Europe on Sunday, ordered an army and police rescue operation of the 600 people kidnapped in Niger state, but the episode comes at a crucial moment: He is in the midst of campaigning for reelection and while his team has trumpeted economic progress, it has been quieter about Nigeria's security situation.
Tinubu anchored his 2023 manifesto on grand national security promises of "a proactive and intelligence driven security approach," but he has mainly focused on fixing Nigeria's ailing economy in his first term. His team put out a scorecard this month of his three-year performance that focused on economic results.
"Certainly in the first couple of years of this administration, insecurity did not seem to be the priority," said James Barnett, a non-resident fellow at the Hudson Institute who has lived and researched conflict in Nigeria. "That doesn't mean there weren't security policies being implemented, but it was not really getting the top level engagement."
Leading opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, also Tinubu's main rivals ballot in 2023, have pledged to hire more people and "decentralize security management" to tackle insecurity, if elected. For his part, Tinubu has backed a law that will allow Nigerian states to set up their own police departments, and tasked a security committee with drafting a five-year "strategic defence operations plan."
Alexander's view
The worry over being abducted is more firmly ingrained in the Nigerian psyche compared to three years ago. The increasing chances of being taken, whether one is in a church, mosque, school, on a trip to the capital Abuja or resting at home, is a grim reality that should not be the case given Tinubu's firm campaign pledges.
Since his first day in office, Tinubu has made sweeping economic changes — from a fuel subsidy removal and naira devaluations, to overhauling tax laws and reigniting oil and gas investment — but has not shown the same urgency on security issues that should be his primary duty. It means that Nigeria's continuing failure to stamp out abduction and terrorism is Tinubu's failure.
"Despite sustained military pressure, there's no evidence that Nigeria's insecurity is abating in substantial terms," Taiwo Hassan Adebayo, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa, told me. "Nigerian security planners need to ask and respond to the questions about how the armed groups source their weapons, get fuel they use to power their bikes, and access Starlink for connectivity in their remote locations where telco service is off," Adebayo said.
For Tinubu and his chief adversaries Atiku and Obi, then, Nigeria's security predicament will require more than election season sloganeering. The candidates are yet to captivate voters with a robust action plan that seriously takes into account the ideological, economic, and governance gaps that enable bad actors to thrive. And so in facing the same electoral choices as last time, Nigerians are limited to the same set of ideas ill-suited against worsening problems.
The worry over being abducted is more firmly ingrained in the Nigerian psyche compared to three years ago. The increasing chances of being taken, whether one is in a church, mosque, school, on a trip to the capital Abuja or resting at home, is a grim reality that should not be the case given Tinubu's firm campaign pledges.
Since his first day in office, Tinubu has made sweeping economic changes — from a fuel subsidy removal and naira devaluations, to overhauling tax laws and reigniting oil and gas investment — but has not shown the same urgency on security issues that should be his primary duty. It means that Nigeria's continuing failure to stamp out abduction and terrorism is Tinubu's failure.
"Despite sustained military pressure, there's no evidence that Nigeria's insecurity is abating in substantial terms," Taiwo Hassan Adebayo, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa, told me. "Nigerian security planners need to ask and respond to the questions about how the armed groups source their weapons, get fuel they use to power their bikes, and access Starlink for connectivity in their remote locations where telco service is off," Adebayo said.
For Tinubu and his chief adversaries Atiku and Obi, then, Nigeria's security predicament will require more than election season sloganeering. The candidates are yet to captivate voters with a robust action plan that seriously takes into account the ideological, economic, and governance gaps that enable bad actors to thrive. And so in facing the same electoral choices as last time, Nigerians are limited to the same set of ideas ill-suited against worsening problems.
Know More
Ladd Serwat, senior Africa analyst at ACLED whose data shows a 30% rise in the targeting of civilians by insurgents and bandit groups in Nigeria, said this year's second quarter was the country's most violent since the Wisconsin-based firm began collecting data in 1997. "The spread and intensification of armed banditry across northern and central Nigeria" drove the escalation, Serwat told Semafor.
Banditry is increasingly lucrative: Between July 2025 and this year, ransom payments for abductions in Nigeria tripled to $5.8 million, according to the SBM, a Lagos-based consultancy. The rise was on the back of a 66% year-on-year increase in the number of kidnap victims, the firm said.
Analysts say terror groups like rival factions of Boko Haram and al-Qaida affiliates such as the JNIM sect are surging in number and increasingly competing with one another in Nigeria, to a degree that makes it sometimes difficult to distinguish between them and correctly attribute actions.
The insecurity landscape is also more chaotic because some groups, after initially being invited to help defend against insurgents, turned into terrorists, said Dengiyefa Angalapu, an analyst at the Center for Democracy and Development in Abuja.
One such group is Lakurawa. It entered Nigeria from the Sahel following a recourse to self-help by some communities in the northwest, but Nigeria declared it a terrorist group last year for its al-Qaida ties. This identity flux adds to the difficulty of Nigeria's fight against guerrilla warfare, Angalapu said. "They sometimes mix very well with their communities. Sometimes they are bandits by night, and community members by day."
Other conflicts such as between farmers and herders, separatist movements in the southeast, and oil theft in the Niger Delta make up Nigeria's "increasingly layered and geographically dispersed," security troubles that raise the cost of doing business, Jervin Naidoo, political analyst at Oxford Economics Africa, said.
Ladd Serwat, senior Africa analyst at ACLED whose data shows a 30% rise in the targeting of civilians by insurgents and bandit groups in Nigeria, said this year's second quarter was the country's most violent since the Wisconsin-based firm began collecting data in 1997. "The spread and intensification of armed banditry across northern and central Nigeria" drove the escalation, Serwat told Semafor.
Banditry is increasingly lucrative: Between July 2025 and this year, ransom payments for abductions in Nigeria tripled to $5.8 million, according to the SBM, a Lagos-based consultancy. The rise was on the back of a 66% year-on-year increase in the number of kidnap victims, the firm said.
Analysts say terror groups like rival factions of Boko Haram and al-Qaida affiliates such as the JNIM sect are surging in number and increasingly competing with one another in Nigeria, to a degree that makes it sometimes difficult to distinguish between them and correctly attribute actions.
The insecurity landscape is also more chaotic because some groups, after initially being invited to help defend against insurgents, turned into terrorists, said Dengiyefa Angalapu, an analyst at the Center for Democracy and Development in Abuja.
One such group is Lakurawa. It entered Nigeria from the Sahel following a recourse to self-help by some communities in the northwest, but Nigeria declared it a terrorist group last year for its al-Qaida ties. This identity flux adds to the difficulty of Nigeria's fight against guerrilla warfare, Angalapu said. "They sometimes mix very well with their communities. Sometimes they are bandits by night, and community members by day."
Other conflicts such as between farmers and herders, separatist movements in the southeast, and oil theft in the Niger Delta make up Nigeria's "increasingly layered and geographically dispersed," security troubles that raise the cost of doing business, Jervin Naidoo, political analyst at Oxford Economics Africa, said.
Step Back
After the threat of a coup late last year, Tinubu reshuffled the Nigerian military's top brass. The new leadership then participated in a joint operation with the US in December, striking terrorist enclaves. This year, Tinubu has raised army officers' pay and created more army units, while Nuhu Ribadu, his national security advisor, has met with US officials on three occasions since November to update Washington on Nigeria's efforts to prosecute terrorists and counter terrorist financing.
Yet, "a lot of the Nigerian government's reaction has had to do with managing diplomatic relations," Barnett, of the Hudson Institute, said. Raising military pay and expanding firepower were positive measures, but whether Tinubu maintains the political energy needed to fully implement structural changes beyond this election season remains to be seen, Barnett said.
After the threat of a coup late last year, Tinubu reshuffled the Nigerian military's top brass. The new leadership then participated in a joint operation with the US in December, striking terrorist enclaves. This year, Tinubu has raised army officers' pay and created more army units, while Nuhu Ribadu, his national security advisor, has met with US officials on three occasions since November to update Washington on Nigeria's efforts to prosecute terrorists and counter terrorist financing.
Yet, "a lot of the Nigerian government's reaction has had to do with managing diplomatic relations," Barnett, of the Hudson Institute, said. Raising military pay and expanding firepower were positive measures, but whether Tinubu maintains the political energy needed to fully implement structural changes beyond this election season remains to be seen, Barnett said.
Room for Disagreement
Ebenezer Obadare, the Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow on African Studies, tallies about a half dozen military operations by the Tinubu administration that have rescued hostages, and declares that "the Nigerian President has every reason to be delighted." The killing of at least four high-profile terror group leaders and more than 1,000 terrorists with the US government's assistance suggests that the tide of a prolonged fight against jihadist insurgency "has turned in favor of the Nigerian authorities," he wrote.
But Obadare added that Nigeria's security situation "remains critical," and that continued cooperation with the US remains necessary "for the foreseeable future."
Ebenezer Obadare, the Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow on African Studies, tallies about a half dozen military operations by the Tinubu administration that have rescued hostages, and declares that "the Nigerian President has every reason to be delighted." The killing of at least four high-profile terror group leaders and more than 1,000 terrorists with the US government's assistance suggests that the tide of a prolonged fight against jihadist insurgency "has turned in favor of the Nigerian authorities," he wrote.
But Obadare added that Nigeria's security situation "remains critical," and that continued cooperation with the US remains necessary "for the foreseeable future."
The View From Washington DC
The US Department of Defense plans to withdraw 200 troops who were deployed to Nigeria in February as part of the Trump administration's counter-terrorism assistance. The mission generated "significant security returns," the Pentagon said.
President Donald Trump's aides and Republican political allies have often framed security engagements with Nigeria firstly as a defense of Christians that are supposedly being particularly targeted by jihadists. It continues to be the leading priority of a joint working group that said Abuja has taken steps to prosecute hundreds of terror suspects, and improve law enforcement capacity.
Nigeria has spent at least $9 million on lobbying in the US to counter sentiments questioning Tinubu's security commitment. But that has not stopped Trump allies, like Sen. Ted Cruz, chair of the US Senate's Africa subcommittee, from threatening sanctions and an aid freeze in response to what they still deem to be "mass violence against Christians and religious minorities."
The US Department of Defense plans to withdraw 200 troops who were deployed to Nigeria in February as part of the Trump administration's counter-terrorism assistance. The mission generated "significant security returns," the Pentagon said.
President Donald Trump's aides and Republican political allies have often framed security engagements with Nigeria firstly as a defense of Christians that are supposedly being particularly targeted by jihadists. It continues to be the leading priority of a joint working group that said Abuja has taken steps to prosecute hundreds of terror suspects, and improve law enforcement capacity.
Nigeria has spent at least $9 million on lobbying in the US to counter sentiments questioning Tinubu's security commitment. But that has not stopped Trump allies, like Sen. Ted Cruz, chair of the US Senate's Africa subcommittee, from threatening sanctions and an aid freeze in response to what they still deem to be "mass violence against Christians and religious minorities."
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
As campaigns begin in Nigeria, Tinubu's re-election bid puts his party on trial
As campaigning for January's elections begins on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu's pitch for a second term faces a politically fraught question: are Nigerians better off after more than a decade of rule by his All Progressives Congress?
The answer could shape the presidential contest against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who have built their appeal on widespread frustration over economic hardship and insecurity.
The main challengers argue the APC's nearly 12 years in power have left Africa's most populous country poorer, more indebted and no safer than when the party swept into office in 2015, then under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari.
NEARLY 80% SAY NIGERIA HEADING IN WRONG DIRECTION
For Tinubu, nicknamed "T-Pain" by many Nigerians grappling with soaring living costs, the election will test whether voters are willing to endure short-term pain for the promise of longer-term gains.
So far, many appear unconvinced.
"The APC's tenure from 2015 to 2026 makes for unhappy reading and Tinubu's reforms have particularly brought severe pain," Cheta Nwanze, a partner at Nigeria-based risk advisory SBM Intelligence, said.
"Our voter tracker shows nearly 80% of Nigerians say the country is headed in the wrong direction with 45% citing economic hardship and insecurity as their top concern."
Few Nigerian presidents have moved as quickly on economic policy as Tinubu. He scrapped a costly decades-old fuel subsidy and twice devalued the naira.
The reforms delivered changes long sought by investors and international lenders, but also unleashed a shock across households, fuelling protests and what many Nigerians describe as the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
Tinubu has defended the measures as necessary to unwind years of state intervention. His government cites higher revenues and stronger investor interest as signs the reforms are working.
"Since 2023, our reforms have restored stability and credibility to economic management," he said during a recent broadcast.
Many voters, however, judge the economy less by macroeconomic gains than by the cost of putting food on the table.
'I USED TO SELL SIX GOATS A DAY'
At Abuja's Garki market, butcher Abdullahi Sani said soaring costs had crushed demand.
"Five years ago, I used to sell six goats a day. Now I struggle to sell two, sometimes just one," he told Reuters. "It is difficult to make a profit and feed my family."
The gap between improving economic indicators and worsening household finances is likely to define the campaign.
Tinubu's challenge is compounded by the risk that voters will not only judge him on his own record. They will also be looking back at his predecessor's legacy.
He inherited an economy moulded by Buhari, whom he helped propel to power. Buhari's interventionist agenda included import curbs, currency controls, border closures and a fuel subsidy that cost the government $10 billion in 2022 alone.
"The inequality gap between the haves and those that do not have is increasing," Sulaimon Arigbadu, executive secretary of HEDA Resource Centre, said.
Living standards have also deteriorated. GDP per capita fell 53% to $1,224 currently from $2,586 in 2015, World Bank data show, highlighting a decade-long erosion of household prosperity.
The legacy is evident in Nigeria's swelling debt burden which rose more than 12-fold to 159.35 trillion naira ($117.34 billion) by March 2026 from 12.6 trillion naira at end-2015, official data shows.
Debt-service costs are forecast at $11.6 billion this year, almost half of projected revenue and more than twice the 2025 bill of $5.15 billion.
If the economy is Tinubu's biggest hurdle, security could prove his most damaging liability.
The government says military operations have curbed attacks, made roads safer and allowed more farmers to return to their fields.
ELECTION ABOUT SURVIVAL, SECURITY AND FOOD
Yet violence remains widespread. Amnesty International says at least 10,217 people have been killed by armed groups and around 15 mass abductions of schoolchildren have been recorded since Tinubu took office.
Critics say threats have evolved rather than receded, with banditry widespread in the northwest, separatist unrest in the southeast and kidnappings for ransom now pervasive.
"For ordinary Nigerians, this election is fundamentally about survival, security ... whether families can afford food, whether farmers can safely return to their farms," Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, head of CISLAC/Transparency International Nigeria, said.
The APC swept to power more than a decade ago pledging to defeat Islamist insurgents, curb corruption, and revive an economy hit by low oil prices. Instead, Nigeria slipped into its first recession in 25 years under Buhari, while inflation hit record highs above 33% and growth remained sluggish.
Tinubu enters the election campaign weighed down by his record and his party's, with the opposition arguing that after more than a decade in power, only results now matter.
For many voters, the election may hinge on whether life is safer and more affordable now than when the APC first promised change in 2015.
"The data tells us the odds are against Tinubu and the only way back is low voter turnout on election day," Nwanze said. "However, the opposition remains disunited, which historically have favoured the incumbent."
By Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and Camillus Eboh, Reuters
The answer could shape the presidential contest against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who have built their appeal on widespread frustration over economic hardship and insecurity.
The main challengers argue the APC's nearly 12 years in power have left Africa's most populous country poorer, more indebted and no safer than when the party swept into office in 2015, then under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari.
NEARLY 80% SAY NIGERIA HEADING IN WRONG DIRECTION
For Tinubu, nicknamed "T-Pain" by many Nigerians grappling with soaring living costs, the election will test whether voters are willing to endure short-term pain for the promise of longer-term gains.
So far, many appear unconvinced.
"The APC's tenure from 2015 to 2026 makes for unhappy reading and Tinubu's reforms have particularly brought severe pain," Cheta Nwanze, a partner at Nigeria-based risk advisory SBM Intelligence, said.
"Our voter tracker shows nearly 80% of Nigerians say the country is headed in the wrong direction with 45% citing economic hardship and insecurity as their top concern."
Few Nigerian presidents have moved as quickly on economic policy as Tinubu. He scrapped a costly decades-old fuel subsidy and twice devalued the naira.
The reforms delivered changes long sought by investors and international lenders, but also unleashed a shock across households, fuelling protests and what many Nigerians describe as the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
Tinubu has defended the measures as necessary to unwind years of state intervention. His government cites higher revenues and stronger investor interest as signs the reforms are working.
"Since 2023, our reforms have restored stability and credibility to economic management," he said during a recent broadcast.
Many voters, however, judge the economy less by macroeconomic gains than by the cost of putting food on the table.
'I USED TO SELL SIX GOATS A DAY'
At Abuja's Garki market, butcher Abdullahi Sani said soaring costs had crushed demand.
"Five years ago, I used to sell six goats a day. Now I struggle to sell two, sometimes just one," he told Reuters. "It is difficult to make a profit and feed my family."
The gap between improving economic indicators and worsening household finances is likely to define the campaign.
Tinubu's challenge is compounded by the risk that voters will not only judge him on his own record. They will also be looking back at his predecessor's legacy.
He inherited an economy moulded by Buhari, whom he helped propel to power. Buhari's interventionist agenda included import curbs, currency controls, border closures and a fuel subsidy that cost the government $10 billion in 2022 alone.
"The inequality gap between the haves and those that do not have is increasing," Sulaimon Arigbadu, executive secretary of HEDA Resource Centre, said.
Living standards have also deteriorated. GDP per capita fell 53% to $1,224 currently from $2,586 in 2015, World Bank data show, highlighting a decade-long erosion of household prosperity.
The legacy is evident in Nigeria's swelling debt burden which rose more than 12-fold to 159.35 trillion naira ($117.34 billion) by March 2026 from 12.6 trillion naira at end-2015, official data shows.
Debt-service costs are forecast at $11.6 billion this year, almost half of projected revenue and more than twice the 2025 bill of $5.15 billion.
If the economy is Tinubu's biggest hurdle, security could prove his most damaging liability.
The government says military operations have curbed attacks, made roads safer and allowed more farmers to return to their fields.
ELECTION ABOUT SURVIVAL, SECURITY AND FOOD
Yet violence remains widespread. Amnesty International says at least 10,217 people have been killed by armed groups and around 15 mass abductions of schoolchildren have been recorded since Tinubu took office.
Critics say threats have evolved rather than receded, with banditry widespread in the northwest, separatist unrest in the southeast and kidnappings for ransom now pervasive.
"For ordinary Nigerians, this election is fundamentally about survival, security ... whether families can afford food, whether farmers can safely return to their farms," Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, head of CISLAC/Transparency International Nigeria, said.
The APC swept to power more than a decade ago pledging to defeat Islamist insurgents, curb corruption, and revive an economy hit by low oil prices. Instead, Nigeria slipped into its first recession in 25 years under Buhari, while inflation hit record highs above 33% and growth remained sluggish.
Tinubu enters the election campaign weighed down by his record and his party's, with the opposition arguing that after more than a decade in power, only results now matter.
For many voters, the election may hinge on whether life is safer and more affordable now than when the APC first promised change in 2015.
"The data tells us the odds are against Tinubu and the only way back is low voter turnout on election day," Nwanze said. "However, the opposition remains disunited, which historically have favoured the incumbent."
Friday, June 12, 2026
“Criticize Me, But Never Stop Believing in Nigeria,” Tinubu Tells Citizens
President Bola Tinubu has urged the media and civil society organisations not to stop believing in Nigeria even when they criticise his government.
Mr Tinubu spoke in a televised broadcast to mark this year’s Democracy Day on Friday.
Addressing key democratic institutions, Mr Tinubu described the National Assembly, the judiciary, the press and civil society groups as the “guardrails” of the republic.
“To our National Assembly, Judiciary, the Press, and Civil Society: you are the guardrails of our republic. Criticise me, disagree with me, but never stop believing in Nigeria,” the president said.
The president noted that Nigeria had sustained 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule since 1999, describing it as the country’s longest period of democratic governance.
“Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it,” he said.
Mr Tinubu spoke in a televised broadcast to mark this year’s Democracy Day on Friday.
Addressing key democratic institutions, Mr Tinubu described the National Assembly, the judiciary, the press and civil society groups as the “guardrails” of the republic.
“To our National Assembly, Judiciary, the Press, and Civil Society: you are the guardrails of our republic. Criticise me, disagree with me, but never stop believing in Nigeria,” the president said.
The president noted that Nigeria had sustained 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule since 1999, describing it as the country’s longest period of democratic governance.
“Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it,” he said.
Elections, Security
Mr Tinubu also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political parties to ensure peaceful and credible governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
According to him, democracy is weakened when citizens lose confidence in the electoral process.
The president also addressed Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that the mood of the day was “dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno.”
He said the administration had declared a security emergency, approved recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers and thousands of military personnel, and committed N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget — the largest allocation yet.
Speaking on the economy, the president defended recent reforms as a “necessity,” citing improved federation revenues, higher domestic refining capacity, and growth in non-oil exports.
He said the next phase would focus on making democracy felt in the quality of life through job creation, lower inflation, and expanded opportunities for youth.
He also honoured the heroes of the ‘June 12’ struggle, including M.K.O. Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, and announced national awards for democracy activists and “soldier-democrats” who suffered persecution.
“Let us renew our covenant: That the labours of our heroes’ past shall never be in vain, and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this land,” Mr Tinubu said.
Mr Tinubu also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political parties to ensure peaceful and credible governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
According to him, democracy is weakened when citizens lose confidence in the electoral process.
The president also addressed Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that the mood of the day was “dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno.”
He said the administration had declared a security emergency, approved recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers and thousands of military personnel, and committed N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget — the largest allocation yet.
Speaking on the economy, the president defended recent reforms as a “necessity,” citing improved federation revenues, higher domestic refining capacity, and growth in non-oil exports.
He said the next phase would focus on making democracy felt in the quality of life through job creation, lower inflation, and expanded opportunities for youth.
He also honoured the heroes of the ‘June 12’ struggle, including M.K.O. Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, and announced national awards for democracy activists and “soldier-democrats” who suffered persecution.
“Let us renew our covenant: That the labours of our heroes’ past shall never be in vain, and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this land,” Mr Tinubu said.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Nigeria's Obi to run for president again after opposition split
Nigerian politician Peter Obi said he would run for president again in January after winning his party's nomination, setting up another contest between incumbent Bola Tinubu and a divided opposition.
Obi was declared winner of the Nigeria Democratic Congress primary on Sunday, less than a month after quitting an alliance that had tried to set up a single opposition challenger.
The acceptance from Obi - who came third in the last election after galvanizing young voters - hit hopes among some opposition backers that he might return to the coalition.
It prepares the ground for a re-run of 2023's three-way contest that is likely to test whether public anger over rising living costs and insecurity can translate into votes against Tinubu, or whether the anti-government vote will once again be split.
"We must address insecurity with resolve and urgency, for no nation can thrive while its citizens live in trepidation," Obi said in a statement late on Sunday.
Nigeria is grappling with overlapping security crises that stretch far beyond the jihadist insurgency in the northeast, where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have waged a conflict for more than 15 years.
In the northwest, heavily armed gangs known locally as bandits carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and raids on villages and schools, while north-central states have also seen recurring violence linked to disputes over land and grazing routes.
Voters will also be focused on Tinubu's economic reforms, including the removal of fuel and electricity subsidies and ending currency controls which have won over investors even as Nigerians watch their incomes and savings erode.
Higher global oil prices linked to the Iran conflict have added to the pressure, with Nigeria experiencing some of the steepest fuel price increases among major African economies.
Tinubu on Friday defended his reforms, saying they had stabilised the country and revived investor confidence, despite the squeeze on households.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, runner-up in the last election, last week won the ticket to represent the African Democratic Congress party, in what will be his seventh presidential bid.
Leaders of other smaller parties are also expected to run.
By MacDonald Dzirutwe, Reuters
Obi was declared winner of the Nigeria Democratic Congress primary on Sunday, less than a month after quitting an alliance that had tried to set up a single opposition challenger.
The acceptance from Obi - who came third in the last election after galvanizing young voters - hit hopes among some opposition backers that he might return to the coalition.
It prepares the ground for a re-run of 2023's three-way contest that is likely to test whether public anger over rising living costs and insecurity can translate into votes against Tinubu, or whether the anti-government vote will once again be split.
"We must address insecurity with resolve and urgency, for no nation can thrive while its citizens live in trepidation," Obi said in a statement late on Sunday.
Nigeria is grappling with overlapping security crises that stretch far beyond the jihadist insurgency in the northeast, where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have waged a conflict for more than 15 years.
In the northwest, heavily armed gangs known locally as bandits carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and raids on villages and schools, while north-central states have also seen recurring violence linked to disputes over land and grazing routes.
Voters will also be focused on Tinubu's economic reforms, including the removal of fuel and electricity subsidies and ending currency controls which have won over investors even as Nigerians watch their incomes and savings erode.
Higher global oil prices linked to the Iran conflict have added to the pressure, with Nigeria experiencing some of the steepest fuel price increases among major African economies.
Tinubu on Friday defended his reforms, saying they had stabilised the country and revived investor confidence, despite the squeeze on households.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, runner-up in the last election, last week won the ticket to represent the African Democratic Congress party, in what will be his seventh presidential bid.
Leaders of other smaller parties are also expected to run.
By MacDonald Dzirutwe, Reuters
Friday, May 29, 2026
President Tinubu says reforms stabilising economy despite hardship
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said on Friday his economic reforms stabilised the country and revived investor confidence, despite a steep cost-of-living squeeze on households three years into his presidency.
Tinubu, who is seeking re-election in January, cited a near fivefold surge in the stock market to a record 250,000 points, rising market capitalisation and increased infrastructure spending, including more than 2,700 km (1,678 miles) of roads under construction or rehabilitation, and ongoing rail upgrades.
Since 2023, Tinubu's reforms — scrapping a costly petrol subsidy, cutting electricity subsidies and devaluing the naira currency — have triggered the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
In an anniversary statement on Friday, Tinubu said that painful reforms were beginning to yield macroeconomic gains — stronger public finances, rising market confidence and fresh investment.
"Today, I can say with confidence that Nigeria has stabilised and is moving forward again. Across the country, visible progress is taking shape," he said.
He also said reforms had drawn new oil and gas investment and lifted domestic refining, cutting fuel imports and easing foreign exchange pressure, adding that efforts to clear 4 trillion naira ($2.92 billion) in power sector debts, expand transmission and increase output were ongoing, with better electricity supply key to growth.
Security operations against armed groups and criminal gangs have intensified, he said, with some gains despite ongoing challenges.
Nigeria has battled banditry in the northwest, communal violence in central states, a separatist movement in the southeast and a 17-year Islamist insurgency in the northeast, with militants this year stepping up attacks on military bases.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to stay the course, saying the "foundation for recovery has been laid" and that the benefits of reform would become more visible over time.
By Camillus Eboh, Reuters
Tinubu, who is seeking re-election in January, cited a near fivefold surge in the stock market to a record 250,000 points, rising market capitalisation and increased infrastructure spending, including more than 2,700 km (1,678 miles) of roads under construction or rehabilitation, and ongoing rail upgrades.
Since 2023, Tinubu's reforms — scrapping a costly petrol subsidy, cutting electricity subsidies and devaluing the naira currency — have triggered the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
In an anniversary statement on Friday, Tinubu said that painful reforms were beginning to yield macroeconomic gains — stronger public finances, rising market confidence and fresh investment.
"Today, I can say with confidence that Nigeria has stabilised and is moving forward again. Across the country, visible progress is taking shape," he said.
He also said reforms had drawn new oil and gas investment and lifted domestic refining, cutting fuel imports and easing foreign exchange pressure, adding that efforts to clear 4 trillion naira ($2.92 billion) in power sector debts, expand transmission and increase output were ongoing, with better electricity supply key to growth.
Security operations against armed groups and criminal gangs have intensified, he said, with some gains despite ongoing challenges.
Nigeria has battled banditry in the northwest, communal violence in central states, a separatist movement in the southeast and a 17-year Islamist insurgency in the northeast, with militants this year stepping up attacks on military bases.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to stay the course, saying the "foundation for recovery has been laid" and that the benefits of reform would become more visible over time.
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Atiku Abubakar Confirms Seventh and Final Run for Nigerian Presidency
At 78 years old, former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has formally announced that the 2027 general election will mark his seventh and absolute final attempt to secure the nation's highest office.
The declaration, made during an intense strategic pivot by the opposition, sets the stage for a high-stakes electoral showdown against the ruling All Progressives Congress. As the architect of a fragile new mega-coalition, Atiku is betting three decades of political capital on one last maneuver to unify a fractured opposition and capture the presidency that has repeatedly eluded him.
At 78 years old, former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has formally announced that the 2027 general election will mark his seventh and absolute final attempt to secure the nation's highest office.
The declaration, made during an intense strategic pivot by the opposition, sets the stage for a high-stakes electoral showdown against the ruling All Progressives Congress. As the architect of a fragile new mega-coalition, Atiku is betting three decades of political capital on one last maneuver to unify a fractured opposition and capture the presidency that has repeatedly eluded him.
The declaration, made during an intense strategic pivot by the opposition, sets the stage for a high-stakes electoral showdown against the ruling All Progressives Congress. As the architect of a fragile new mega-coalition, Atiku is betting three decades of political capital on one last maneuver to unify a fractured opposition and capture the presidency that has repeatedly eluded him.
At 78 years old, former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has formally announced that the 2027 general election will mark his seventh and absolute final attempt to secure the nation's highest office.
The declaration, made during an intense strategic pivot by the opposition, sets the stage for a high-stakes electoral showdown against the ruling All Progressives Congress. As the architect of a fragile new mega-coalition, Atiku is betting three decades of political capital on one last maneuver to unify a fractured opposition and capture the presidency that has repeatedly eluded him.
A Decades-Long Pursuit of Power
Atiku’s pursuit of the presidency is one of the most enduring narratives in African democratic history. His ambition spans back to the early 1990s, navigating through multiple political parties, shifting alliances, and relentless primary battles. Having served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 under Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku has always operated at the absolute pinnacle of Nigerian political strategy.
In a recent television interview, Atiku explicitly confirmed that age and historical timing dictate that 2027 will be his final campaign. He will turn 80 in November 2026, making him the oldest major presidential aspirant in the country's democratic era. By framing this as a definitive final run, his campaign team is attempting to cultivate a narrative of ultimate redemption, urging loyalists to mobilize for one last historic push.
However, critics view his longevity as a liability. Detractors argue that a seventh attempt reflects a stubborn refusal to pass the baton to a younger generation of leaders, risking the stagnation of the opposition’s broader ideological appeal.
Atiku’s pursuit of the presidency is one of the most enduring narratives in African democratic history. His ambition spans back to the early 1990s, navigating through multiple political parties, shifting alliances, and relentless primary battles. Having served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 under Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku has always operated at the absolute pinnacle of Nigerian political strategy.
In a recent television interview, Atiku explicitly confirmed that age and historical timing dictate that 2027 will be his final campaign. He will turn 80 in November 2026, making him the oldest major presidential aspirant in the country's democratic era. By framing this as a definitive final run, his campaign team is attempting to cultivate a narrative of ultimate redemption, urging loyalists to mobilize for one last historic push.
However, critics view his longevity as a liability. Detractors argue that a seventh attempt reflects a stubborn refusal to pass the baton to a younger generation of leaders, risking the stagnation of the opposition’s broader ideological appeal.
Forging the ADC Opposition Coalition
The 2027 strategy relies entirely on the successful formation of a unified opposition front. Following his defeat to Bola Tinubu in 2023, Atiku recognized that fragmented opposition voting blocs—specifically the division between his People's Democratic Party and Peter Obi’s Labour Party—guaranteed an APC victory.
To combat this, Atiku is a central figure in the newly formed African Democratic Congress coalition. This alliance aims to bring together heavyweights such as Peter Obi, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi. The coalition's objective is singular: to present a united front capable of dismantling the APC’s electoral machinery.
The 2027 strategy relies entirely on the successful formation of a unified opposition front. Following his defeat to Bola Tinubu in 2023, Atiku recognized that fragmented opposition voting blocs—specifically the division between his People's Democratic Party and Peter Obi’s Labour Party—guaranteed an APC victory.
To combat this, Atiku is a central figure in the newly formed African Democratic Congress coalition. This alliance aims to bring together heavyweights such as Peter Obi, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi. The coalition's objective is singular: to present a united front capable of dismantling the APC’s electoral machinery.
. Age Milestone: Atiku will turn 80 years old in November 2026, months before the election.
. Electoral History: The 2027 election marks his 7th presidential bid and his 4th on a general election ballot.
. The Coalition: Leading the charge to merge opposition forces under the African Democratic Congress banner.
. The Objective: To consolidate Northern voting blocs and unseat the incumbent All Progressives Congress government.
Yet, the coalition is already experiencing immense internal friction. Disagreements over who will ultimately top the ticket threaten to derail the alliance before it gains momentum. Supporters of Peter Obi vehemently reject the notion that their candidate should play second fiddle to Atiku, demanding a generational shift that the veteran refuses to concede.
Yet, the coalition is already experiencing immense internal friction. Disagreements over who will ultimately top the ticket threaten to derail the alliance before it gains momentum. Supporters of Peter Obi vehemently reject the notion that their candidate should play second fiddle to Atiku, demanding a generational shift that the veteran refuses to concede.
The Demographic Disconnect
The core vulnerability of Atiku’s final run is Nigeria’s rapidly evolving demographic reality. The country possesses one of the youngest populations globally, with millions of young voters demanding radical systemic change rather than a continuation of the old political guard. The enthusiasm generated by the youth-driven Obidient movement in 2023 starkly contrasts with the traditional, elite-brokered politics Atiku represents.
To win, Atiku must somehow bridge this generational chasm. He is banking on his profound organizational control over northern political structures and his history of delivering massive voting blocs in key states. But numerical dominance in the North may not be sufficient if the Southern electorate and the youth completely reject his candidacy.
The core vulnerability of Atiku’s final run is Nigeria’s rapidly evolving demographic reality. The country possesses one of the youngest populations globally, with millions of young voters demanding radical systemic change rather than a continuation of the old political guard. The enthusiasm generated by the youth-driven Obidient movement in 2023 starkly contrasts with the traditional, elite-brokered politics Atiku represents.
To win, Atiku must somehow bridge this generational chasm. He is banking on his profound organizational control over northern political structures and his history of delivering massive voting blocs in key states. But numerical dominance in the North may not be sufficient if the Southern electorate and the youth completely reject his candidacy.
The Ripple Effect Across Africa
The trajectory of the Nigerian election holds massive implications for democratic norms across the continent. In Kenya, where coalition-building and ethnic voting blocs similarly dominate the political landscape, the success or failure of the ADC mega-alliance will be closely analyzed by political strategists in Nairobi.
As Atiku Abubakar prepares to marshal his vast resources for one final, grueling campaign, the stakes could not be higher. His legacy will be defined not by the six previous defeats, but by whether he can successfully engineer the ultimate political upset in 2027.
The trajectory of the Nigerian election holds massive implications for democratic norms across the continent. In Kenya, where coalition-building and ethnic voting blocs similarly dominate the political landscape, the success or failure of the ADC mega-alliance will be closely analyzed by political strategists in Nairobi.
As Atiku Abubakar prepares to marshal his vast resources for one final, grueling campaign, the stakes could not be higher. His legacy will be defined not by the six previous defeats, but by whether he can successfully engineer the ultimate political upset in 2027.
Monday, May 25, 2026
President Tinubu to run for second term after party primary win
The ruling All Progressives Congress party held its presidential primaries on Saturday after a surprise candidate, Stanley Osifo, challenged Tinubu.
The president ended up getting nearly 11 million votes against 16,500 for Osifo.
Tinubu has won plaudits from foreign investors after rolling out some of Nigeria's boldest reforms, including the removal of fuel and electricity subsidies, ending foreign exchange controls and overhauling the tax code.
The president's chances of re-election were enhanced after an opposition pact to field a single candidate against Tinubu collapsed earlier this month.
Tinubu came into office in 2023 after winning against his two main rivals, who unsuccessfully challenged the result in court, alleging the vote was rigged. Tinubu said he won fairly.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
President Tinubu urges global finance overhaul as debt costs crowd out spending
Nigeria will spend about $11.6 billion servicing its debt in 2026, nearly half of its projected government revenue, President Bola Tinubu said, as he called for an overhaul of a global financial system he said penalises African borrowers.
Debt-servicing costs are crowding out spending on infrastructure, healthcare and education, he said, despite a government tax overhaul aimed at boosting revenues in Africa's most populous country. Nigeria spent $5.15 billion servicing its debt in 2025, data from the Debt Management Office showed.
In a speech at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on Tuesday, Tinubu said high borrowing costs and limited access to long-term finance were diverting resources away from industry, skills and infrastructure, in what he called a structural disadvantage for African economies. The summit, co-hosted by Kenya and France, drew leaders from more than 30 countries.
"Every single dollar that leaves our treasury to pay punitive interest rates is a dollar that did not go into our steel sector, our textile mills, our agro-processing plants, or our digital industries," he said, adding it also meant fewer trained engineers and less affordable power for factories.
Now in his third year in office and aiming for re-election in January 2027, Tinubu has rolled out Nigeria's biggest reforms in decades, scrapping costly fuel and energy subsidies, devaluing the currency and overhauling the tax system in a bid to stabilise an economy hit by inflation, foreign exchange shortages and external shocks.
He said the "painful, homegrown" reforms had stabilised macroeconomic indicators and lifted investor sentiment.
But he added that the gains were being eroded by a global financial system that treats African sovereigns as persistently high-risk borrowers, driving up interest costs.
Analysts led by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group said this week that debt servicing remains a key vulnerability for the country.
Tinubu called for reforms including cheaper financing and deeper economic integration that prioritises Africa's growth and prosperity.
He also urged curbs on illicit financial flows and greater support for industrialisation, saying Africa still accounts for less than 2% of global manufacturing.
"Nigeria is not asking for charity," he said. "We're demanding a financial system that intentionally enables Africa to industrialize, to process its own minerals, refine its own crude oil, manufacture its own pharmaceuticals, and compete fairly in global markets."
By Camillus Eboh, Reuters
Debt-servicing costs are crowding out spending on infrastructure, healthcare and education, he said, despite a government tax overhaul aimed at boosting revenues in Africa's most populous country. Nigeria spent $5.15 billion servicing its debt in 2025, data from the Debt Management Office showed.
In a speech at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on Tuesday, Tinubu said high borrowing costs and limited access to long-term finance were diverting resources away from industry, skills and infrastructure, in what he called a structural disadvantage for African economies. The summit, co-hosted by Kenya and France, drew leaders from more than 30 countries.
"Every single dollar that leaves our treasury to pay punitive interest rates is a dollar that did not go into our steel sector, our textile mills, our agro-processing plants, or our digital industries," he said, adding it also meant fewer trained engineers and less affordable power for factories.
Now in his third year in office and aiming for re-election in January 2027, Tinubu has rolled out Nigeria's biggest reforms in decades, scrapping costly fuel and energy subsidies, devaluing the currency and overhauling the tax system in a bid to stabilise an economy hit by inflation, foreign exchange shortages and external shocks.
He said the "painful, homegrown" reforms had stabilised macroeconomic indicators and lifted investor sentiment.
But he added that the gains were being eroded by a global financial system that treats African sovereigns as persistently high-risk borrowers, driving up interest costs.
Analysts led by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group said this week that debt servicing remains a key vulnerability for the country.
Tinubu called for reforms including cheaper financing and deeper economic integration that prioritises Africa's growth and prosperity.
He also urged curbs on illicit financial flows and greater support for industrialisation, saying Africa still accounts for less than 2% of global manufacturing.
"Nigeria is not asking for charity," he said. "We're demanding a financial system that intentionally enables Africa to industrialize, to process its own minerals, refine its own crude oil, manufacture its own pharmaceuticals, and compete fairly in global markets."
Monday, May 4, 2026
Peter Obi joins Nigeria Democratic Congress in major political shake-up
Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who finished third and fourth respectively in the 2023 presidential race, have both joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), raising the prospect of a joint ticket to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
They were previously in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), along with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who came second in the last election.
While this could be seen as a fragmentation of the opposition, supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso say it will give their alliance greater focus.
Both men are former governors and command significant grassroots followings.
Obi is hugely popular among young voters across the south, while Kwankwaso wields considerable influence in the north.
The move comes just nine months after Obi, Kwankwaso and Abubakar joined the ADC but that alliance quickly became mired in legal battles over party leadership - something Obi blamed on the government.
"The same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC," Obi said on Sunday.
He was the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 election.
Allies of President Tinubu have denied that they have been trying to sabotage opposition parties.
Obi, 64, and Kwankwaso, 69, were formally received at the NDC's national headquarters in Abuja by the party's national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, on Sunday.
Speaking afterwards, both men called for national unity, greater opportunities for young people, and an end to the infighting that has plagued Nigeria's opposition.
However, their decision risks upsetting allies within the coalition built around the ADC, which had been positioning itself as the main vehicle for opposition unity.
Some figures within the bloc have privately expressed a sense of betrayal, raising fresh doubts about whether Nigeria's fragmented opposition can sustain a coordinated challenge against President Tinubu, 74.
In a statement, the Nigerian presidency played down the significance of the defections, suggesting they reflected "the normal fluidity of democratic politics" rather than any fundamental shift.
A presidential spokesperson said the government remained focused on governance.
"Political alliances will come and go," the spokesperson said. "But our priority is delivering economic reforms, improving security and ensuring stability for all Nigerians."
Political analyst Bala Yusuf told the BBC the move could reshape Nigeria's electoral landscape.
"If the NDC fields Obi as its presidential candidate and Kwankwaso as vice-president, they will definitely give the ruling APC a run for their money at the polls," he said.
They have not yet said who the presidential candidate will be - an issue that has broken up several previous Nigerian political alliances.
Elections are scheduled for early January next year - they will be the country’s eighth since the end of military rule in 1999.
They were previously in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), along with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who came second in the last election.
While this could be seen as a fragmentation of the opposition, supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso say it will give their alliance greater focus.
Both men are former governors and command significant grassroots followings.
Obi is hugely popular among young voters across the south, while Kwankwaso wields considerable influence in the north.
The move comes just nine months after Obi, Kwankwaso and Abubakar joined the ADC but that alliance quickly became mired in legal battles over party leadership - something Obi blamed on the government.
"The same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC," Obi said on Sunday.
He was the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 election.
Allies of President Tinubu have denied that they have been trying to sabotage opposition parties.
Obi, 64, and Kwankwaso, 69, were formally received at the NDC's national headquarters in Abuja by the party's national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, on Sunday.
Speaking afterwards, both men called for national unity, greater opportunities for young people, and an end to the infighting that has plagued Nigeria's opposition.
However, their decision risks upsetting allies within the coalition built around the ADC, which had been positioning itself as the main vehicle for opposition unity.
Some figures within the bloc have privately expressed a sense of betrayal, raising fresh doubts about whether Nigeria's fragmented opposition can sustain a coordinated challenge against President Tinubu, 74.
In a statement, the Nigerian presidency played down the significance of the defections, suggesting they reflected "the normal fluidity of democratic politics" rather than any fundamental shift.
A presidential spokesperson said the government remained focused on governance.
"Political alliances will come and go," the spokesperson said. "But our priority is delivering economic reforms, improving security and ensuring stability for all Nigerians."
Political analyst Bala Yusuf told the BBC the move could reshape Nigeria's electoral landscape.
"If the NDC fields Obi as its presidential candidate and Kwankwaso as vice-president, they will definitely give the ruling APC a run for their money at the polls," he said.
They have not yet said who the presidential candidate will be - an issue that has broken up several previous Nigerian political alliances.
Elections are scheduled for early January next year - they will be the country’s eighth since the end of military rule in 1999.
President Tinubu Begins Three-Nation Tour With France Visit
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in France on the first leg of his three-nation tour, aimed at advancing Nigeria’s economic diplomacy and strengthening strategic international partnerships.
The President departed Abuja at about 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, accompanied to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside other top government officials.
The visit marks the commencement of engagements across France, Kenya, and Rwanda, where the Nigerian leader is expected to champion his administration’s reform agenda on global platforms.
By Temitope Mustapha, VON
The President departed Abuja at about 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, accompanied to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside other top government officials.
The visit marks the commencement of engagements across France, Kenya, and Rwanda, where the Nigerian leader is expected to champion his administration’s reform agenda on global platforms.
Deepening Cooperation
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated that the tour underscores Nigeria’s commitment to deepening cooperation with key international partners, particularly the French Republic and African nations, in areas of economic growth, innovation, and investment.
From France, President Tinubu will proceed to Nairobi for the Africa-France Summit scheduled for May 11 to 12, co-chaired by Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto.
The summit, themed “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” will focus on critical areas including energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, global financing reforms, and climate action.
The summit will bring together African and French leaders to deliberate on key development priorities such as infrastructure, youth empowerment, peace-building, and economic transformation, providing a platform for enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Thereafter, the President will head to Kigali, Rwanda, to participate in the Africa CEO Forum from May 14 to 15.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated that the tour underscores Nigeria’s commitment to deepening cooperation with key international partners, particularly the French Republic and African nations, in areas of economic growth, innovation, and investment.
From France, President Tinubu will proceed to Nairobi for the Africa-France Summit scheduled for May 11 to 12, co-chaired by Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto.
The summit, themed “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” will focus on critical areas including energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, global financing reforms, and climate action.
The summit will bring together African and French leaders to deliberate on key development priorities such as infrastructure, youth empowerment, peace-building, and economic transformation, providing a platform for enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Thereafter, the President will head to Kigali, Rwanda, to participate in the Africa CEO Forum from May 14 to 15.
Explore Strategies
The forum, organised in partnership with the International Finance Corporation, is expected to attract over 2,000 business leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore strategies for economic transformation, regional integration, and cross-border investment under the theme “Scale or Fail.”
At both summits, President Tinubu is expected to deliver keynote statements highlighting his administration’s reforms and positioning Nigeria as a prime destination for investment and sustainable growth, while also holding high-level meetings with global and African business leaders.
The President is accompanied on the trip by selected ministers and senior aides and is expected to return to Nigeria after concluding engagements in Rwanda.
The forum, organised in partnership with the International Finance Corporation, is expected to attract over 2,000 business leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore strategies for economic transformation, regional integration, and cross-border investment under the theme “Scale or Fail.”
At both summits, President Tinubu is expected to deliver keynote statements highlighting his administration’s reforms and positioning Nigeria as a prime destination for investment and sustainable growth, while also holding high-level meetings with global and African business leaders.
The President is accompanied on the trip by selected ministers and senior aides and is expected to return to Nigeria after concluding engagements in Rwanda.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Kenya's leader backtracks after comments mocking Nigerians' English
His clarification came at a mining conference in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, attended by Nigeria's Minerals Minister Henry Dele Alake, who told the gathering: "President Ruto, the people of Nigeria have mandated me to inform and assure you that Nigerians speak good English."
To much laughter, Ruto took to the stage to explain his comments to Kenyans living in Italy last week were intended to be private and had been "taken out of context".
"The fact is that I was talking about how we in Africa speak very good English, all of us," he said.
"In fact, in some countries like Nigeria, if you do not speak excellent English like the one we speak in Kenya, you may need a translator to understand the excellent English of Nigeria. So that was the comparison. But somebody misrepresented the facts."
President Ruto reminded the audience at the mining development conference that Nigerians were his in-laws - one of his daughters, June, is married to a Nigerian.
"I want to send my regards to my brothers and sisters in Nigeria… my in-laws."
He told Alake to pass on his greetings his Nigerian counterpart Bola Tinubu: "Tell President Tinubu that I said, 'Hi'. And tell him I said that in good English… so that there will be no consequences."
Following an explanation about how he felt he had been mispresented, the president ended by saying: "It is as well that we can have this conversation - my in-laws I hope there will be no consequences for whatever was done," he said.
The good-natured banter was in sharp contrast to barrage of criticism President Ruto has faced online.
Last week, he had boasted about how Kenya's education system was producing some of the best human capital in the world, with strong English proficiency.
"We speak some of the best English in the world, that is true. If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don't know what they are saying. You need a translator even when they are speaking English."
The condemnation that followed was widespread - fuelling an online cyber rivalry between the two nations.
Kenya and Nigeria are both former British colonies and share English as an official language but have distinct spoken varieties with different phonetic structures.
These differences reflect the influence of indigenous languages - Nigeria has more than 500 languages which shape its cadence and intonation, while Kenya's Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic mix give rise to its own accents.
Friday, April 24, 2026
Kenyan leader sparks uproar after mocking Nigerians' spoken English
Addressing Kenyans living in Italy on Monday, Ruto said: "If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don't know what they are saying - you need a translator," while boasting that Kenyans spoke "some of the best English in the world".
His remarks drew fierce condemnation from Nigerians and other Africans online who accused the Kenyan leader of demeaning a fellow African nation.
"English is a colonial language, not a measure of intelligence, capability, or national progress," wrote Hopewell Chin'ono, a Zimbabwean journalist.
As former British colonies, both Kenya and Nigeria share English as an official language, but each country has developed distinct spoken varieties with different phonetic structures.
These differences reflect the influence of indigenous languages - Nigeria has more than 500 languages which shape its cadence and intonation, while Kenya's Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic mix give rise to its own accents.
But in his address to the diaspora gathering, Ruto said Kenya's education system produced strong English proficiency and that it was difficult to understand Nigerians when they spoke English.
"Our education is good. Our English is good. We speak some of the best English in the world. If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don't know what they are saying. You need a translator even when they are speaking English," he said, sparking laughter in the room.
"We have some of the best human capital anywhere in the world. We just need to sharpen it with more training," Ruto added.
His remarks have led to widespread reactions on social media, with many users criticising the Kenyan leader for showcasing a "deep inferiority complex rooted in colonial conditioning".
"Ruto is mocking the English of the country with a Nobel Prize for literature winner.The Nation of Achebe and Chimamanda," former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani posted on X, referring to Wole Soyinka - the country's only Nobel Prize winner - along with acclaimed authors Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Other social media users urged Ruto to focus on addressing pressing issues facing his citizens - such as the cost of living and unemployment - rather than engaging in what they described as distractions.
Online barbs between Kenya and Nigeria are a frequent occurrence, often marked by intense, humorous and sometimes volatile cyber wars on platforms like X.
These exchanges typically revolve around economic comparisons, pop culture and sport and, more recently, political remarks.
Earlier this month, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu faced a backlash from Kenyans online after stating that Nigerians were "better off than those in Kenya and other African countries" despite rising fuel prices at home.
While Ruto did not make a direct reference to any specific comment, some online interpretations suggested his remarks may be in response to Tinubu's comments.
There has been no official response from Ruto's government, but some Kenyans have defended him online, arguing that critics have misunderstood the intent of his remarks and missed the humour.
Nigeria has more English speakers than any other country in Africa. Over time, the language has evolved locally into what is often described as "Nigerian English" - a distinct and widely recognised variety shaped by the country's history, cultures and everyday usage.
It continues to influence global English, with Nigerian expressions, such as "next tomorrow" (the day after tomorrow), increasingly appearing in mainstream dictionaries.
Nigeria's large and active diaspora, particularly in the UK, has also helped spread and shape these linguistic influences across borders.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)