Northern political leaders, academics, youth groups, traditional rulers, and civil society stakeholders have pledged their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration, warning that any reversal of ongoing economic reforms could endanger Nigeria's recovery and long-term stability ahead of the 2027 general elections. This position was reached at a Northern Stakeholders Townhall Engagement organized by the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement at Arewa House, Kaduna, where participants critically appraised the Tinubu administration and examined the implications of the emerging 2027 political discourse.
Support for Reforms
The gathering concluded that despite current economic hardship, the reforms being implemented by the Federal Government require continuity, patience, and stronger public communication to deliver lasting benefits. Representing President Tinubu at the occasion, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, stated that the administration had moved Nigeria from reforms to recovery through bold decisions aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions. He listed key policy interventions including fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms, improved revenue generation, stronger fiscal discipline, and renewed investor confidence.
According to Dare, these difficult decisions were necessary to prevent deeper economic decline and reposition the country for sustainable growth. He also highlighted federal social programs such as the NELFUND student loan initiative, healthcare reforms, pension restructuring, salary adjustments, and youth empowerment schemes, noting that the government is balancing economic reforms with social protection measures. On infrastructure, Dare mentioned major projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, and rail modernization, emphasizing that these reflect a national development agenda rather than sectional interests.
State-Level Impacts
Kaduna State Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, said increased federal allocations had enabled Governor Uba Sani's administration to expand transport, education, healthcare, and agricultural interventions across the state. He disclosed that Kaduna had deployed over 100 CNG buses for free transportation services, rehabilitated health facilities, constructed roads across all 23 local government areas, and improved the ease of doing business. Maiyaki also attributed improved security in Kaduna to deliberate governance strategies, peacebuilding initiatives, and stronger engagement with communities.
In his welcome remarks, National Coordinator of PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Sunday Adekanbi, described the townhall as a strategic platform for assessing governance outcomes and mobilizing support for continuity of reforms beyond 2027. He warned that policy discontinuity could reverse gains already recorded in security, infrastructure, and economic management.
Keynote and Panel Discussions
Delivering a keynote paper, Prof. Solomon T. Gushibet said Tinubu's reforms were painful but necessary interventions designed to avert fiscal collapse and restore confidence in governance institutions. He identified achievements in local government autonomy, CreditCorp, CNG initiatives, agricultural reforms, technical education, and health sector development, while acknowledging challenges such as inflation, food insecurity, debt pressure, and communication gaps. According to him, continuity in 2027 would be critical to consolidate gains already made.
During panel discussions, stakeholders unanimously stressed that Nigeria is undergoing structural adjustment that requires delayed gratification rather than abrupt policy reversal. They emphasized the importance of patience and sustained communication to ensure the reforms deliver their intended long-term benefits.
