Nigeria's president launches re-election manifesto but can he regain voters' trust?

What the report says

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has unveiled a re-election manifesto through his party, the All Progressives Congress, ahead of the January 2027 general election. The BBC reports that the plan, titled "From Reform to Prosperity," promises higher economic growth, stronger security, more housing and lower living costs, as Tinubu seeks to rebuild public trust after a first term defined by difficult economic adjustments.

The manifesto sets targets that include 6% annual economic growth by 2031, 78,000 additional security personnel and 200,000 affordable homes. It also pledges to reduce the cost of living, expand electricity generation and cut youth unemployment if Tinubu wins another term. The report notes that these goals follow major reforms already introduced by the administration, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange-rate changes and tax reforms, which international lenders have praised for improving macroeconomic stability.

But the BBC says many Nigerians still feel little relief. Analysts quoted in the article argue that higher fuel, food and transport costs have hit households hard, while insecurity in parts of the north continues to disrupt farming and economic activity. Inflation has eased from its 2024 peak, according to official figures cited in the report, yet living costs remain a central voter concern.

Opposition figures, including Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, are also positioning themselves around the same issues. The BBC concludes that Tinubu’s challenge is not only to defend his reforms, but also to convince voters that they will soon deliver tangible benefits.