Ubaidullah Yahaya kaura

PRESS BRIEFING BY MALLAM ALWAN HASSAN(@yesmylo ) IN KANO STATE ON THE CASE FOR NORTHERN NIGERIA TO REELECT PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU FOR A SECOND TERM IN OFFICE Thursday, 29 October 2026 Distinguished members of the press, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. I want to begin today's briefing by extending my warm congratulations to the leadership, members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress @OfficialAPCNg on the successful campaign rally held at the Ranchers Bees Stadium in Kaduna. I congratulate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT , GCFR, the leadership of our great party, the organisers of the rally and the thousands of Nigerians who came out to participate in what was a remarkable political gathering. The turnout was impressive. The enthusiasm was unmistakable. From the stadium to the surrounding communities, Kaduna witnessed an extraordinary demonstration of political mobilisation. For those of us who have followed political developments across Northern Nigeria, the significance of such a gathering cannot be overlooked. It tells us something about the strength of party organisation, the willingness of supporters to participate in the political process and the importance of Kaduna as a centre of political activity in Northern Nigeria. But rallies are only one part of the democratic process. The real test of political leadership is what happens beyond the stadium: in our communities, in our schools, in our markets, on our farms and in the lives of ordinary Nigerians. Three days ago, I gathered members of my ward in Dakata, Kano State, for a door-to-door engagement with residents. We visited homes, spoke with families and discussed the policies and programmes of the Federal Government. It was an opportunity to hear directly from people about their experiences, their expectations and the challenges they continue to face. These conversations are important because the success of government policy cannot be measured by official announcements alone. It must also be measured by its effects on the people. And this brings me to the central issue I want to address today: the economic and development record of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ladies and gentlemen, When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, Nigeria faced serious economic challenges. The country was struggling with substantial fiscal pressures, a fragmented foreign exchange market, rising inflation and a public finance system under strain. According to the Federal Government's State of the Economy presentation delivered to the Federal Executive Council on 28 October 2026, Nigeria's economy grew by only 2.74 per cent in 2023. At the beginning of the administration, the country had net usable external reserves of approximately $859 million, despite gross reserves of about $35 billion. The foreign exchange market was characterised by multiple windows and a spread exceeding 60 per cent. The tax-to-GDP ratio stood at approximately 7 per cent, while debt servicing consumed about 97 per cent of government revenue. These were substantial economic challenges. The administration responded with reforms intended to address the structural weaknesses in public finance, foreign exchange management and the allocation of national resources. The removal of petrol subsidy and the restructuring of the foreign exchange market were among the most consequential decisions. They also imposed significant adjustment costs on Nigerians. However, nearly three and a half years into the administration, the available economic indicators provide an opportunity to assess the progress that we have made. The Nigerian economy recorded real GDP growth of 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with annual growth of 2.74 per cent in 2023. Headline inflation stood at 14.63 per cent in September 2026, according to the latest figures presented by the Federal Government.