Tinubu’s Reforms Require Strategic Political Engagement, Says Campaign Group

 

By oluwaseyi fadoro 

The Forward Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2027 Independent Campaign Group has described the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, as a “Strategic Bridge Builder” for his role in political coordination and engagement with stakeholders across Nigeria.

The group made the declaration at a press conference where it reviewed what it described as the achievements, reforms and institutional developments of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration since May 2023.

According to the group, the administration’s economic reforms, infrastructure investments, energy policies, education initiatives, housing programmes and institutional reforms required effective political engagement to ensure that government policies were properly communicated and feedback from citizens and stakeholders received.

It specifically highlighted the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market as major economic reforms undertaken by the administration, noting that the government had also pursued tax reforms, revenue mobilisation and financial-sector reforms.

The group said the administration had reported improvements in public finances, increased fiscal capacity for states and local governments and renewed investor interest following the implementation of the reforms.

On infrastructure, the campaign group cited the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of more than 2,700 kilometres of highways and major roads, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road and East-West Road.

It also highlighted ongoing rail modernisation and transportation investments, describing them as part of efforts to improve connectivity, logistics and economic integration.

On the oil and gas sector, the group said the Federal Government had prioritised domestic production, refining and energy security, while regulatory and fiscal reforms had helped stimulate investment interest in the industry.

The group further pointed to agriculture, industrial development, technology, youth empowerment, healthcare and housing as other areas of government intervention.

It said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) had expanded access to tertiary education, citing a presidential report that more than 1.5 million students had benefited from the scheme, with disbursements exceeding N282 billion.

The group also referenced the Renewed Hope Housing Programme, saying the Presidency reported that more than 10,000 housing units were being delivered across 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside Renewed Hope Cities in Abuja, Lagos and Kano.

On security, the group acknowledged the continuing challenges of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other criminal activities, while noting the Federal Government’s reported efforts through military and security operations.

It stressed, however, that significant challenges remained and that sustained investment in intelligence, surveillance, logistics, technology and inter-agency cooperation was necessary.

Turning specifically to Masari, the group said his appointment as Special Adviser on Political Affairs in March 2026 placed him within the Presidency’s political-advisory structure at a time when the administration’s reforms required extensive engagement across Nigeria’s diverse political and social landscape.

It described the “Strategic Bridge Builder” designation as its own characterisation of the political-coordination function associated with his office, rather than a substitute for independently verifiable records.

The group said political advisers had an important role to play in maintaining communication between government and stakeholders, particularly during periods of major economic and social reforms.

“ The bridge between government and stakeholders must remain open. The bridge between policy and the people must remain strong. And the bridge between national aspirations and practical implementation must remain firmly grounded in accountability, dialogue and service to the Nigerian people,” it said.

The group, however, acknowledged that the country continued to face challenges, including the cost of living, food affordability, unemployment and underemployment, insecurity, electricity supply, infrastructure maintenance, healthcare access, educational quality and poverty reduction.

It said the benefits of economic growth and reforms must ultimately translate into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

The group said its presentation was intended to provide Nigerians with information about the administration’s policies, programmes and institutional developments while allowing citizens to hear competing perspectives and make their own judgments about the country’s direction.

“The story of contemporary Nigeria is still being written,” the group said, adding that the government’s responsibility was to consolidate areas of progress while addressing the difficulties Nigerians continued to experience.