Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has declared that President Bola Tinubu must secure re-election in 2027 to complete his ambitious reform agenda, which he claims is transforming the nation’s economy and infrastructure.
Speaking at a policy summit in Abuja on April 25, 2025, Keyamo argued that Tinubu’s first term, ending in May 2027, is laying the foundation for long-term growth, but a second term is essential to cement gains in agriculture, energy, and security, as reported by Vanguard Nigeria and Punch Nigeria. The statement comes amid economic challenges, including 34% inflation and a naira value of N1,600 per dollar, fueling debate over Tinubu’s leadership.
Keyamo highlighted initiatives like the $90 billion Agribusiness and Livestock Development Plan, approved on April 23, 2025, which aims to create 2 million jobs by 2030 through agro-industrial zones and mechanized farming. He also cited the removal of fuel subsidies, which saved N5 trillion in 2024, and the unification of exchange rates, which boosted foreign reserves to $40 billion, per the Central Bank of Nigeria. “These reforms are painful but necessary. President Tinubu needs eight years to see them through,” Keyamo said, pointing to infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and 1,000 new rural health centers.
Critics, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), argue that Tinubu’s policies have deepened poverty, with 43% of Nigerians below the $2.15-a-day poverty line, per the World Bank. The PDP’s national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, called Keyamo’s remarks “premature,” urging focus on 2025 deliverables. Keyamo countered that Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) is strengthening grassroots support, citing 2023’s 8.7 million votes as evidence of public trust. He also praised security gains, with banditry incidents in the northwest dropping 35% since 2024, per the Ministry of Defence.
Tinubu, 73, has not confirmed his 2027 candidacy, but allies like Keyamo, a senior APC figure, are rallying support. The Independent National Electoral Commission has set February 2027 for the election, with campaigns starting in late 2026. Analysts note that Tinubu’s re-election bid faces hurdles, including youth discontent and opposition from northern leaders, but his control of party machinery gives him an edge. Keyamo’s push reflects the APC’s strategy to frame Tinubu’s reforms as a long-term vision, requiring voter patience to deliver prosperity.