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What City People Found Out
Are you one of those who think that it will be easy for the opposition to defeat Pres. Bola Tinubu at the polls in 2027? If you are, then it seems you are not in tune with the prevailing realities in the country.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has repeatedly said his sole aim in 2027 is to chase out PBT from office. Peter Obi has said a similar thing. Mallam El-Rufai usually puts it in a more drammatic way. He repeatedly talks of removing the President and his APC government.
It is to be able to achieve this that they all came together in ADC, as a powerful coalition to take over power from Tinubu in 2027.
But over the last few months many people have been wondering how they intend to defeat the President, for so many reasons.
This is because the entire opposition collective is weak and many political analysts have said so in clear terms.
One of the analyst is human rights lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba who has berated the opposition parties in Nigeria, stressing that they lack the requisite ideas needed to tackle the current administration.
He is of the opinion that the opposition lacks capacity and ideas to defeat APC.
Deji Adeyanju, a Lawyer & Activist has also stated that Pres. Tinubu is poised to win without strong opposition.
“All l see opposition parties do is attend weddings and funerals. There are many serious issues in this country to talk about in order to win over Nigerians, but nobody is hitting the big issues” he said.
Agbakoba lamented the absence of ideological clarity and issue-based campaigns, noting that successful political movements elsewhere were built on strong policy messaging. He cited former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as an example of how clear, relatable economic messaging helped galvanise voters.
“Tell Nigerians what you will do differently.
Engage them house to house. Connect your ideas to their daily struggles. That’s politics.
That’s not happening here” he said.
The former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President said it would be “the easiest country to take” politically if opposition leaders focused on real issues affecting Nigerians rather than ceremonial appearances and internal wrangling.
Agbakoba made this remark a few days ago, while speaking on the state of the nation’s politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He argued that defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) reflect deeper structural failures within the opposition.
According to him, opposition politics in Nigeria has failed to engage citizens on substantive policy alternatives that could sway public opinion.
So if governors are leaving an opposition party and going to the APC, who is to be blamed?
Many have also argued that Pres. Bola Tinubu seems to have a headstart ahead of the opposition. Whilst the opposition is in disarray, he has spent the last one year strengthing the APC across the 36 states. He has been mobilising members ahead of other parties since last year.
He has a formidable structure on ground that the opposition can’t beat.
The APC has inaugurated the Renewed Hope Ambassador across the states to intensify work on Pres. Tinubu’s 2nd term.
And to make matters worse for the opposition, members are just putting in place structures to contest the 2027 elections which is just about 11 months away.
Why it will not be easy for the opposition to defeat Pres. Tinubu easily is the fact that all the indicators look good for the APC, except on the issue of Insecurity, which is being tackled fiercely.
Experts have also come out to commend the President
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, stating they’ve helped stabilize Nigeria’s economy. She noted that the administration’s efforts, including removing fuel subsidies and unifying exchange rates, have laid the groundwork for sustainable growth.
Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that while Stability is crucial, the next step should focus on driving growth and protecting vulnerable citizens. She stressed the need for stronger social safety nets to shield Nigerians from the impact of sweeping reforms.
Some key areas of improvement include:
– Economic Stability: Reduced inflation rate (21.88% in July 2025) and improved foreign reserves ($34.8bn in December 2025)
– Fiscal Discipline: Halting uncontrolled Ways and Means advances from the Central Bank
– Investment: Increased resources for state governments in education, health, and infrastructure
– Growth Potential: Aims for 7% annual growth by 2027 and quadrupling the economy by 2030
However, some critics argue that these reforms have led to increased hardship for ordinary Nigerians, with soaring inflation and living costs .
What is the World Bank’s assessment of President Tinubu’s economic reforms
The World Bank has given a thumbs up to President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, citing positive impacts on Nigeria’s economy, including macroeconomic stabilization and pro-people priorities. According to the World Bank, the reforms have led to a more unified and transparent foreign exchange market, tighter monetary policy, and improved fiscal savings from subsidy removal.
Some key highlights of the World Bank’s assessment include:
– Economic Growth: Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.6% in Q4 2024, with a projected growth rate of 3.6% for 2024, the highest in 10 years.
– Inflation: Inflation remains a concern, but the World Bank notes that tight monetary policy and disciplined fiscal policy are expected to help control it.
– Foreign Exchange: The naira has stabilized, and foreign reserves have increased to over $37 billion.
– Poverty Reduction: The World Bank projects a modest decline in poverty in 2027, driven by gains from the administration’s economic strategy and targeted interventions.
The World Bank has also commended President Tinubu’s commitment to Transparency and accountability, citing the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange rate unification as bold steps.
What are the specific reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration?
The Tinubu administration has implemented several key reforms aimed at stabilizing and growing Nigeria’s economy. Some of the notable reforms include:
– Fuel Subsidy Removal: The administration removed fuel subsidies, which has helped reduce fiscal waste and redirect resources to more productive areas.
– Exchange Rate Unification: The unification of exchange rates has eliminated arbitrage opportunities, stabilized the naira, and improved transparency.
– Tax Reforms: The administration has introduced tax reforms, including the retention of the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate at 7.5%, with essential items like food, education, and healthcare zero-rated to ease inflationary pressure.
– Oil Revenue Reform: Executive Order 9 directs oil and gas revenue entitlements to be remitted directly into the Federation Account, enhancing transparency and predictability.
– Debt Restructuring: Efforts have been made to reduce the debt servicing ratio, freeing up fiscal space for public expenditure.
– Agricultural Revitalization: Initiatives like the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and the declaration of a state of emergency on food production aim to boost agricultural productivity.
– Power Sector Reforms: The Electricity Act allows states to develop, generate, transmit, and distribute electricity, promoting private sector participation.
– Digital Transformation: Investments in digital infrastructure, including a national fibre optic rollout, aim to enhance connectivity and economic growth.
These reforms have contributed to improved macroeconomic stability, increased foreign investment, and growth in key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.
How about strengthening the naira?
The Tinubu administration’s exchange rate reforms have been working wonders for the naira! After the initial plunge to N1,800 per dollar in March 2024, the naira has been strengthening, reaching N1,525/$1 by August 2025, marking a 15.28% strengthening in just five months.
This turnaround is attributed to increased oil receipts, swelling diaspora remittances, and the clearing of over $4 billion in foreign exchange backlogs, which restored investor trust. The unification of Nigeria’s FX windows created a single, transparent market rate, letting the currency find its realistic value.
The World Bank praises Nigeria’s reform progress, citing improved macroeconomic stability, increased foreign investor confidence, and a $300 billion commitment from Qatari investors. The naira’s stability is expected to attract more investments and boost economic growth.
How about interest rates?
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently cut its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 26.5% in February 2026, aiming to support growth amid moderating inflation. This decision follows a prolonged period of tightening, with the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) peaking at 27.5% in late 2024 before stabilizing at 27% through much of 2025.
Key Highlights:
– Inflation Trend: Nigeria’s annual inflation rate eased to 15.10% in January 2026, marking the tenth consecutive monthly decline.
– Economic Growth: The economy is projected to grow by 4.49% in 2026, driven by monetary tightening, exchange-rate reforms, and improved investor confidence.
– Future Outlook: Analysts expect further rate cuts, potentially bringing the MPR down to 23.5-25% in 2026.
How about inflation?
Nigeria’s inflation rate has been trending downwards, with a slight decrease to 15.10% in January 2026 from 15.15% in December 2025, marking the tenth consecutive monthly decline. This is the lowest level since November 2020, partly due to a stronger currency reducing import costs. Food inflation, a key driver, also fell to 8.89% in January, down from 10.84% in December.
Experts predict inflation will continue to ease, with projections ranging from 12.94% to 14% by the end of 2026, driven by factors like improved food supply, stable energy prices, and naira appreciation. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aims to maintain price stability, with a focus on inflation targeting.
How about our foreign reserves?
We gathered that Nigeria’s foreign reserves have been on the rise, with the gross reserves reaching $50.45 billion as of February 16, 2026, and net reserves standing at $34.8 billion at the end of 2025. This growth is attributed to improved transparency and credibility in foreign exchange management, boosting investor confidence and attracting stronger FX inflows.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) projects external reserves to climb to $51.04 billion in 2026, driven by reduced pressure in the FX market, anticipated rise in oil earnings, sovereign bond issuance, and diaspora remittance inflows.
