President Bola Tinubu has said Northern Nigeria will emerge as the biggest beneficiary of his administration’s economic reforms, arguing that the removal of fuel subsidies has helped rescue the country from severe fiscal pressure and redirect resources towards infrastructure and productive sectors.
Tinubu’s position was presented by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, who represented the President on Tuesday at the second edition of the APC Professionals Forum’s Policy Roundtable in Abuja.
The event, titled “The Asiwaju Scorecard Series”, focused on the economic performance and policies of the Tinubu administration.
In outlining the government’s economic trajectory, the President highlighted improvements in several key macroeconomic indicators.
According to Tinubu, Nigeria’s gross external reserves had risen to approximately $52.7 billion by August 2026, while real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026.
He also pointed to a moderation in inflation towards 15.4 per cent, presenting the figures as evidence of progress under his administration’s economic reforms.
The President linked the reforms to his administration’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030, citing major infrastructure projects as key drivers of future economic growth.
Among the projects highlighted were the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Lagos-Kano rail corridor and Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline.
Tinubu said the projects would position Northern Nigeria as an important commercial hub, with greater opportunities for cross-border trade with neighbouring countries.
“The biggest beneficiaries of this economy will be the Northern part of Nigeria, because they will now be trading with countries, trading with Niger, trading with Chad, trading with Burkina Faso, trading with Southern Sudan, trading with Northern Cameroon, trading with Central African Republic…”
He added: “The North is the next business destination of Nigeria.”
Regional groups disagree with Tinubu
The President’s assessment, however, has attracted mixed reactions from prominent regional organisations.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Middle Belt Forum (MBF) rejected the claim that Northern Nigeria was the primary beneficiary of the reforms.
The groups argued that the economic policies had instead worsened poverty, inflation and the cost of living for many communities across the region.
The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) took a different position, endorsing the administration’s reported progress.
The organisation maintained that Tinubu’s structural reforms and distribution of infrastructure represented an improvement compared with the performance of previous administrations.
APC attacks calls for subsidy reinstatement
The APC leadership also used the event to criticise opposition proposals ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly calls to restore fuel subsidies.
The party took aim at pledges, including statements attributed to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, supporting the reinstatement of fuel subsidies.
Dr Isa Yuguda, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the APC Professionals Forum, warned that returning to the previous subsidy regime could reopen channels for financial leakages.
He argued that such a move could undermine the fiscal resources currently being used to fund initiatives including national student loans, border security and regional transport infrastructure.
The debate over the economic reforms is expected to remain a major issue ahead of the 2027 elections, with the government highlighting improved economic indicators and infrastructure investment while critics continue to point to the impact of inflation and rising living costs on households.
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