Kaduna: The Road To Continuity And Prosperity

History does not merely look at Kaduna; it waits for it. On Saturday, October 24, 2026, this legendary crucible of Nigerian politics became the epicentre of a looming national showdown. Before a roaring sea of party faithful, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, flanked by Vice President Kashim Shettima, officially drew the battle lines for the 2027 general elections.

Igniting the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign on the very soil where empires and republics have been forged, the Tinubu administration sounded a definitive battle cry: the march to tomorrow has officially begun.

The campaign flag-off became an epicentre of raw political parley as governors, ministers, and lawmakers converged with party faithful from every corner of the federation. In that charged political atmosphere, the sheer scale of the APC’s machinery was undeniable. Fuelled by a roaring base, the administration sent an unmistakable message to the nation: as the next electoral storm gathers, the governing party is mobilised, locked in, and ready to consolidate its democratic gains for the future.

Beyond the crowds, colours and excitement, Kaduna offered an opportunity to demonstrate how the Tinubu administration is connecting difficult but necessary economic reforms with infrastructure development, improved public services and the long-term prosperity of Nigerians.

The Renewed Hope Agenda has entered a phase in which the foundations laid through reform are increasingly being complemented by investments and programmes with direct implications for citizens’ livelihoods. That is the work of national development, and it is the responsibility to which the administration has committed itself.

One of the most significant highlights of the presidential campaign flag-off was President Tinubu’s symbolic inauguration of the completed 81-kilometre section of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Dual Carriageway. The project marks an important milestone in the administration’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s transport infrastructure and strengthening economic connectivity.

For decades, the Abuja–Kaduna corridor has served as a major route connecting the Federal Capital Territory with commercial and agricultural centres across Northern Nigeria. Farmers depend on the corridor to transport produce to markets. Manufacturers rely on it to move raw materials and finished goods, while traders, transport operators and other businesses require efficient road networks to sustain their activities.

The President’s decision to inaugurate the project during the campaign flag-off brought infrastructure delivery into the national political conversation. It demonstrated the place of transport connectivity in the administration’s strategy for building a more productive and competitive economy.

President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 amid serious economic challenges, including fiscal pressures, foreign exchange distortions, infrastructure deficits, and longstanding structural weaknesses. His administration responded with reforms designed to address these difficulties and establish a more sustainable foundation for growth. The removal of petrol subsidies and changes to the foreign exchange system were among the most consequential decisions.

While these sweeping policies demanded painful sacrifices from families and enterprises alike, the administration remains unyieldingly committed to a singular mission: ensuring the hard-won victories of reform directly transform Nigerian lives with revitalised services, soaring investment, and unprecedented economic opportunity. Today, the latest economic indicators offer undeniable proof—the tide is turning, and progress is real.

Nigeria’s economy recorded growth of 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 4.23 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025. The Federal Ministry of Finance also reported headline inflation of 15.39 per cent in August 2026, while external reserves reached approximately $54.7 billion in September. These developments strengthen the conditions under which businesses can invest, governments can plan, and citizens can pursue opportunities with greater confidence.

Progress is also taking shape through interventions across critical sectors. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is expanding access to tertiary education financing, while the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) is working to improve access to consumer credit.

The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas is supporting the transition to alternative transportation fuels, with the potential to reduce operating costs for transport providers and commuters. In healthcare, the administration is pursuing the revitalisation of primary healthcare facilities, improved financing and expanded access to essential services. Agricultural interventions, investments in food production and ongoing road projects, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, form part of a broader effort to strengthen domestic productivity, connect markets and create economic opportunities across the federation.

The task ahead is to consolidate these gains while addressing the cost-of-living pressures that continue to affect many families. This explains the emphasis the Renewed Hope Agenda places on infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, transportation and other sectors with direct consequences for household welfare.

The Ranchers Bees Stadium in Kaduna was a boiling cauldron in which these Renewed Hope policies were explained, the air thick with the dust of a thousand stomping feet and the deafening roar of the APC faithful. President Tinubu, launching his bid for a second term, waited for the thunderous cheers to subside. When he spoke, he did not offer a defensive shield. He drew a sword.

“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty,” the President’s voice cut through the stadium, sharp and unyielding. He leaned into the microphone, pausing just long enough to let the weight of the accusation hang over the crowd.

“Who created it?” He didn’t wait for the opposition to answer. He pointed a finger straight into the political ether, directly at the legacy of his rivals. “They did!” he thundered. “They created the hunger. They created the poverty. And we are trying to eradicate it!”

The crowd erupted. Behind him, the political elite watched the raw theatre of a President aggressively shifting the battleground of the 2027 election. He implored the sea of supporters not to be swayed by the sudden empathy of past leaders, specifically targeting those who now weaponise the cost-of-living crisis against his administration.
Nkwocha is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President).