President Bola Tinubu has launched his campaign for a second term as the cost-of-living crisis, insecurity, and cost of reforms fuel a discussion on his administration’s record.
The President has formally launched his campaign for re-election, promising Nigerians “a better tomorrow” as his administration faces mounting public concern over living costs, economic hardship and insecurity.
At a campaign rally in Kaduna on 24 October 2026, Tinubu highlighted prosperity, economic recovery, growth and opportunity as central themes of his bid for a second term. His message comes as Nigerians continue to contend with the effects of economic reforms introduced since he assumed office in 2023.
The campaign presents a defining question for the administration: can the government demonstrate that its economic policies are delivering tangible improvements in citizens’ lives and convince voters that continued implementation will produce better outcomes?
One of Tinubu’s most consequential decisions, was the removal of Nigeria’s decades-long petrol subsidy. A wake where economic reform began to meet with the rising crisis of cost-of-living. The policy was intended to reduce the government’s subsidy burden and create room for more productive public spending. However, the removal contributed to inflationary pressures and intensified the cost-of-living crisis, placing significant pressure on households and businesses.
The government has defended its approach, arguing that the reforms confronted longstanding structural weaknesses rather than creating them. During his campaign launch, Tinubu rejected criticism from political opponents over hunger and poverty, insisting that his administration was working to eliminate them.
The economic debate now extends beyond whether reform was necessary. It concerns the distribution of its costs, the speed at which benefits become visible and the effectiveness of measures intended to protect vulnerable households.
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