Northern political stakeholders, academics, youth groups and civil society actors gathered at Arewa House in Kaduna on Saturday for a town hall on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's reform agenda. The event, organised by the PBAT Door-To-Door Movement, was themed "Critical Appraisal of Government and Reforms Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 2027 Question." Participants discussed economic reforms, governance, infrastructure, fiscal policy and national stability.
Mr Sunday Adekanbi, National Coordinator of the movement, said the forum aimed to promote honest dialogue on government policies and correct misconceptions about ongoing reforms. He described President Tinubu's actions as a "silent yet systematic revolution" across key sectors. Adekanbi argued that continuity of the reform agenda beyond 2027 was vital for sustainable development.
Mr Sunday Dare, Presidential Adviser on Media and Public Communication, said Nigeria was shifting from reform to recovery due to bold economic decisions. He cited fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms and revenue restructuring as necessary steps to prevent fiscal collapse. Dare stated that previous administrations avoided these measures despite worsening economic distortions. "Leadership is not about comfort; leadership is about responsibility," he said.
Dare added that the government was investing in infrastructure, human capital and economic modernisation. He referenced the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a tool to expand educational access for young Nigerians.
Prof. Solomon Gushibet, Head of the Center for Financial Economics at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru-Jos, said the Tinubu administration inherited an economy with structural distortions, fiscal leakages and weak investor confidence. He described fuel subsidy removal and FX unification as moves toward productivity-driven growth. Gushibet noted signs of stabilisation, including better revenue collection, fewer fiscal leakages, stronger investor engagement and improved forex market stability.
He acknowledged challenges such as insecurity, high living costs, debt pressures and policy implementation gaps. Gushibet urged the Federal Government to boost social interventions and improve public communication on reforms. He stressed that abandoning reforms mid-way could reverse gains and harm investor confidence.
