KIGALI, Rwanda – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has strongly signaled his intention to seek a second term in 2027, vowing that a re-election would mean “more work” and a deepening of the tough economic reforms currently reshaping Nigeria.
Okay News reports that the President made these remarks during a high-profile session at the 13th Africa CEO Forum in Rwanda. Reflecting on his first year in office, Tinubu described his governing philosophy as one rooted in decisive, transformative leadership, regardless of the short-term political cost.
“Do more work. More challenges are there. The world won’t wait for anybody. You have to continue to reset and rethink, challenge the intellectual curiosity of you as a government,” Tinubu said when asked about his priorities for a potential second term. He compared the current economic hardship caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy and foreign exchange unification to the “pains of childbirth,” promising that the “live child” of a stable economy is now within sight.
The President mounted a spirited defense of his fiscal policies, arguing that the previous subsidy regime was “wasteful” and encouraged “falsification of papers and smuggling.” He noted that prior to his reforms, 27 out of 36 states were unable to pay salaries—a trend he insisted was impossible to continue. On the issue of taxation, the President was blunt, stating that citizens must accept the burden of taxes if they desire modern infrastructure like the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway. “A citizen that pays taxes is a citizen, whether corporate or individual,” he added.
Tinubu also highlighted his administration’s support for major industrial players like the Dangote Refinery and BUA Group, explaining that the government’s role is to encourage “risk-takers” who create domestic jobs. He pointed to the recent policy of selling crude oil to local refineries in Naira as a practical step toward energy sovereignty and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Addressing Nigeria’s role on the continent, the President dismissed claims that the country has lost diplomatic relevance. “In ECOWAS, Nigeria is a big brother; in Africa, we are the fat lady. We must sing the tune, we must sing the right tune for others to pay attention to,” he declared. He concluded by urging Nigerians to embrace their diversity as a patriotic strength, asserting that “Nigeria is ready” for the challenges of a globalized economy.
