Why Tinubu deserves a second term — Ex-South-East lawmaker

Former House of Representatives member Sam Onuigbo has called on supporters of the All Progressives Congress to rally behind President Bola Tinubu for a second term. The call came during a stakeholder engagement in Abia State to launch Tinubu's re-election campaign. According to Onuigbo, the stakes were higher now than when many joined the APC party, thanks to the "bold and courageous reforms" introduced by Tinubu's administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

These reforms, Onuigbo contends, have significantly improved Nigeria's fiscal and economic landscape.

Key achievements cited by Onuigbo include the removal of fuel subsidies, which increased funds shared by the three tiers of government, and a significant rise in state governors' allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee. The refining capacity in the petroleum sector has risen from 30,000 barrels per day to over 700,000 barrels per day, and crude oil production has increased from 1.3 million barrels per day to over 1.73 million barrels per day.

The foreign reserves have also surged from $3.99 billion in 2023 to $51.9 billion in 2026, with more than N300 billion invested in the NELFUND scheme. Additionally, Nigeria's GDP has grown from 2.74% in 2023 to 3.9% in the first half of 2026, driven by the non-oil sector.

Onuigbo also highlighted Tinubu's commitment to inclusive governance in the South-East, including the appointment of two service chiefs from the region, the establishment of the South-East Development Commission, and the expansion of airports in Enugu and Owerri. He further praised Tinubu for restoring delisted management courses at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture and praised the ongoing construction of the Federal Secretariat at Ekeoba Ohuhu in Umuahia North Local Government Area.

Despite acknowledging that Nigeria is still a "work-in-progress," Onuigbo maintained that Tinubu has done remarkably well and deserves another term to complete the reforms and programmes initiated during his first term.