I have known President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu since 1998. Over 27 years, I have seen his mindset, his courage, and his conviction tested—and emerge resolute. He is not driven by applause or showmanship; he is driven by results. Today, more than ever, I can say without hesitation: he is on the right track.
A man who understands economics at his core is rare among political leaders—and in Nigeria’s history, he might well be the first President who internalizes that the economy is not a campaign slogan, but a living organism that must breathe, evolve, and be nurtured. The painful reforms we endure today—currency unification, subsidy removal, fiscal discipline—are not ends in themselves; they are the scaffolding upon which tomorrow’s prosperity will be built.
A Nation in Transition: Why Reform Must Hurt Before It Heals
We are executing a shift: from reliance and distortion to innovation and reward. We are moving toward a free-market economy that incentivizes productivity, entrepreneurship, and accountability—not patronage, dependency, or shortcuts.
Look around you: under this administration, the National Security Adviser has been reappointed with intentions to recalibrate our national security architecture. Insecurity—long viewed as an intractable burden—is being tackled quietly, purposefully, and systemically. At the Central Bank of Nigeria, professional leadership is restoring confidence, reinforcing the naira, and giving markets clarity again.
In foreign affairs, Nigeria’s voice is gaining renewed respect. In energy, the nation is repositioning itself. The deregulation of fuel supply—though controversial—is a statement of resolve: we will no longer endure the shame of consistent scarcity or price distortion. Already, the indicators are shifting.
Recent Developments That Confirm the Vision
Inflation Slows, Stability Returns
Nigeria’s inflation rate in September 2025 eased to 18.02% year-on-year, a more than three-year low. Food inflation dropped to 16.87%, as better supply and harvest conditions eased pressure on staples. This downtrend has allowed the Central Bank to cut its benchmark interest rate—the first such move since 2020.
International Funding Confidence
Nigeria is pressing ahead with plans to raise $2.8 billion in global funding—$2.3 billion in new loans plus a $500 million debut sovereign sukuk issuance. This is a bold maneuver to refinance maturing obligations and lock in funding at lower rates.
Meanwhile, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed $500 million in budget support, signalling validation of Nigeria’s reforms from global financial institutions.
Energy Sector Momentum
Shell, in partnership with Sunlink Energies, recently greenlit the offshore HI gas project, which aims to supply 350 million standard cubic feet per day to Nigeria LNG. Concurrently, the Dangote Refinery defended reductions in crude inflow, attributing them to market strategy—not mechanical failure—and reaffirmed its operational resilience.
Political Consolidation
At the Progressive Governors’ Forum meeting in Birnin Kebbi, governors pledged unified support for the Renewed Hope Agenda, committing to align state-level policies with federal direction. The APC has also been receiving defections from rival parties, underscoring how many see this moment as one of political realignment, not just partisan maneuvering.
Policy Focus: Education & Digital Growth
In a recent address, the Tinubu administration emphasized education and the digital economy as central pillars of national development. This signals that structural reform is not limited to macroeconomics—it also seeks to build human capital and stimulate innovation.
What This Means for Nigeria—and Why I Am Joining APC
These developments are not accidental—they are proof of a methodical, purposeful governance strategy. When governors from across Nigeria publicly affirm your direction, when international lenders put their capital on the line, when inflation reverses course, and when energy projects take off—these are not windfalls. They are milestones.
That is why I have made my decision: I am joining the All Progressives Congress (APC)—not out of opportunism, but out of conviction. I believe in President Tinubu’s leadership because I believe in the future he envisions. I am not drawn by politics, but by progress.
Let me be clear: I do not expect this path to be painless. Many families are still struggling. Ordinary Nigerians continue to feel the pinch of last year’s monetary shocks, fuel subsidy removal, and rising cost of living. But history has taught us that meaningful reform demands sacrifice—and that out of struggle can arise renewal.
I say to you now: mark my words. In a full eight-year tenure—if the consistency, vision, and execution continue—Nigeria will record staggering growth, a stronger naira, increased productivity, and renewed investor confidence. Jobs will emerge. Infrastructure will ripple outward. Governance will reclaim credibility.
I choose to stand with that vision. I choose to stand with reform. I choose to stand with the future.
Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
— Senator Ben Murray-Bruce
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