Be Confident, Don’t Lose Faith In Nigeria, Says Party

Young Progressives Party (YPP) has urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the possibility of having a better country despite prevailing economic and governance challenges, and called for renewed civic mobilisation, vigilance and accountability as the nation moves closer to the 2027 general elections.

In a New Year message issued in Abuja yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Comrade Egbeola Wale Martins, the party extended greetings to Nigerians and wished all citizens a peaceful, prosperous and hopeful 2026.

It acknowledged that the journey towards national development had been difficult and discouraging, but warned that surrendering sovereignty must never translate to silence or docility in the face of poor governance.

It stressed that democracy can only thrive when citizens remain alert and actively hold leaders accountable.

According to the YPP, Nigerians must begin to ask critical questions and demand transparency, particularly with the introduction of the new tax law expected to widen the tax net and increase government revenue. The party cautioned that higher revenue without transparency, accountability and prudent management would only worsen hardship and deepen public mistrust.

The party urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by past electoral experiences but to mobilise like never before to reclaim their power at the ballot box. It said the future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on active citizen participation rather than apathy, and called on voters to vote out incompetent, corrupt and insensitive leadership.

The party also warned against the politicisation of the anti-corruption fight, cautioning that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies must not be weaponised against political opponents. It stressed that the fight against corruption must be genuine, impartial and free from political bias, noting that selective justice weakens institutions and erodes public confidence.

On the oil and gas sector, the YPP reiterated its call for an immediate forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to unravel what it described as a disturbing mystery surrounding an unaccounted $40 billion reportedly identified in the company’s records. The party said the sum, which is almost equivalent to Nigeria’s foreign reserves, must be treated with urgency, transparency and seriousness in the national interest.

Addressing the new tax law, the YPP maintained that Nigeria’s core challenge is not revenue generation but reckless, wasteful and opaque expenditure of public funds. While affirming that Nigerians are not opposed to paying taxes, the party criticised the use of public funds to sponsor religious pilgrimages, purchase private jets and yachts, procure luxury SUVs for lawmakers and sustain what it described as the frivolous lifestyle of a reckless political elite. It called on the government to urgently resolve all discrepancies associated with the tax law before implementation and demanded that those responsible for the inconsistencies be investigated and sanctioned in line with the law.

On national security, the YPP acknowledged and commended what it described as renewed commitment to tackling insecurity, particularly following recent international attention on Nigeria’s security challenges. The party also commended the recent airstrikes against terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State carried out by the United States in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces. It urged the federal government to sustain the momentum across all affected regions and rejected any negotiations with terrorists, calling instead for decisive action against terrorist financiers, enablers and supporters.

The party further weighed in on the ongoing electoral law amendment process, calling on the National Assembly to carefully consider stakeholders recommendations and ensure the speedy passage of a credible, people-oriented electoral framework. It warned against deliberate delays aimed at frustrating the amendment process and cautioned against retaining an electoral system that fails to make electronic transmission of results mandatory, arguing that such gaps undermine transparency and public trust.