Tinubu’s promises and Nigerians’ expectations

When Bola Ahmed Tinubu stood before Nigerians during the 2023 presidential campaign, his message was built around the promise of a renewed Nigeria. The campaign presented an ambitious vision of economic transformation, job creation, improved security, food security, stronger infrastructure, and greater opportunities for young people. Under the banner of the “Renewed Hope” agenda, Nigerians were asked to believe that difficult reforms could eventually lead the country towards prosperity.

For many Nigerians, however, political promises are not measured by the strength of campaign speeches but by what happens in their homes, businesses, workplaces, and communities. A promise of economic growth means little to a family struggling with food prices. A promise of job creation matters most to the graduate searching for employment. A promise of improved security is meaningful to communities that have experienced violence and displacement.

Tinubu’s campaign therefore created expectations that extended beyond political slogans. His administration promised to remodel the economy through job creation and food security, make electricity more accessible, improve the investment environment, strengthen security, and create meaningful opportunities for young Nigerians. The administration also promised to pay greater attention to women and youth.

The removal of the petrol subsidy shortly after Tinubu assumed office became one of the clearest signs that the new administration intended to pursue difficult but necessary economic reforms. The government argued that the subsidy system had become financially unsustainable and that the resources could instead be directed towards development. Yet, for ordinary Nigerians, the immediate consequences were painful as transportation costs, food prices, and household expenses increased.

The expectation of Nigerians is, therefore, increasingly shifting from promises of reform to evidence of results. Citizens want to know when economic improvements will translate into cheaper food, affordable transportation, stronger purchasing power, and better living conditions. The government itself has recognised this challenge, with Tinubu stating in his 2026 Democracy Day address that economic progress must be reflected in the quality of people’s lives and that democracy should be felt in the pockets of Nigerians.

One of the strongest expectations is employment. Nigeria has a large youthful population, which constitutes an important part of the country’s future. During his inaugural address, Tinubu promised meaningful opportunities for young people and committed his administration to creating one million new jobs in the digital economy.

For young Nigerians, however, the expectation goes beyond the number of jobs announced by government. They want an economy in which education can lead to meaningful employment, entrepreneurship can flourish, and young people can build sustainable livelihoods without depending entirely on family support. They expect access to finance, digital opportunities, technical training, and an environment where small businesses can survive.

The administration has introduced programmes intended to address some of these needs. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, for example, has expanded access to financial support for students, while government programmes have also focused on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and human-capital development. In 2026, the government announced the HOPE programmes and other initiatives aimed at protecting vulnerable citizens and expanding opportunities.

Another major expectation concerns the cost of living. Food remains one of the most immediate indicators through which ordinary citizens judge the economy. A family may not follow changes in foreign reserves, GDP figures or stock-market performance, but it will notice the price of rice, beans, bread, cooking ingredients, and transportation.

This is why the government’s claim that inflation has fallen and food prices are easing must eventually be reflected in household budgets. The administration has repeatedly pointed to improving economic indicators and agricultural interventions as evidence of recovery. However, Nigerians will expect the gains to become sufficiently broad and sustained to improve their purchasing power rather than remaining statistics discussed at government events.

Security is another area where expectations remain high. During the 2023 campaign and his inaugural address, Tinubu identified security as a major priority, promising reforms in the security architecture and better training, equipment, and welfare for security personnel.

For communities affected by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of insecurity, the expectation is straightforward: they want to sleep peacefully, travel safely, farm without fear, and conduct their businesses without the threat of violence. Security is not simply a political promise for these communities; it is a condition for survival and economic activity.

Farmers in particular expect improved security because agriculture cannot thrive when people are afraid to access their farms. Food security requires more than agriculture policies and financial interventions. It requires an environment where farmers can cultivate, harvest, and transport their produce safely to markets.

Electricity is another long-standing expectation. The Tinubu administration promised greater access to affordable electricity for homes and businesses. The government has subsequently pursued reforms in the power sector, including measures aimed at addressing debts, expanding transmission, and increasing electricity access.

For small businesses, reliable electricity could make the difference between survival and failure. Tailors, barbers, food vendors, technology entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and other small-business owners spend significant amounts on alternative sources of power. Nigerians therefore expect power sector reforms to produce electricity that is not only available but also sufficiently reliable and affordable.

Infrastructure is another area where Nigerians expect visible transformation. Roads, railways, ports, and other infrastructure are essential to economic development because they connect people, businesses, and markets. The administration has highlighted major road and rail projects as evidence of its development agenda, including work on several major highways.

Yet, infrastructure projects also generate expectations about completion, quality, and accessibility. Nigerians want roads that remain usable beyond commissioning ceremonies. They want projects completed within reasonable periods and public funds managed transparently. For citizens, the real test of infrastructure development is whether it reduces travel time, lowers transportation costs, improves commerce, and makes everyday life easier.

Education also remains a major concern. Nigerian students and parents expect an education system that produces knowledge, skills, and opportunities rather than certificates alone. The expansion of student financial assistance through NELFUND represents an attempt to address the problem of access, but Nigerians will continue to expect improvements in educational infrastructure, teaching quality, employability, and opportunities for young graduates.

For many young people, the question is not simply whether they can attend university. It is whether their education will give them a realistic opportunity to build a decent future after graduation.

The business community, meanwhile, expects consistency in government policies. Investors need an environment where taxation, foreign exchange, energy, regulation, and other economic policies are predictable. Tinubu’s administration has introduced tax and fiscal reforms and has argued that the new system is designed to make the Nigerian economy more competitive and investment-friendly.

However, businesses will judge these reforms by their practical consequences. Small and medium-sized enterprises want lower operating costs, access to finance, reliable electricity, fair taxation, and a stable business environment. If these conditions improve, entrepreneurship could become an important source of employment for Nigerians.

The expectations of Nigerians also extend to governance and accountability. Citizens want public officials to explain how public resources are spent and to demonstrate that government programmes are reaching the people they are designed to serve. Economic reforms may be necessary, but public confidence depends heavily on transparency, fairness, and trust.

Tinubu’s administration has repeatedly argued that the difficult decisions taken since 2023 are laying the foundation for long-term prosperity. In his 2026 budget speech, the president described the budget as one of consolidation, renewed resilience, and shared prosperity. He emphasised the need to match words with results and allocations with outcomes.

That statement captures perhaps the most important expectation of Nigerians today: results. After years of political promises, citizens increasingly want to see the connection between government policies and their everyday experiences. They want economic growth that creates jobs, reforms that reduce hardship, infrastructure that improves mobility, security that protects lives and businesses, education that creates opportunities, and governance that inspires confidence.

The journey from campaign promises to measurable outcomes is rarely simple. Governments face economic shocks, security challenges, institutional weaknesses, and unexpected circumstances. Nigerians understand that national transformation cannot happen overnight. Nevertheless, patience becomes difficult when citizens feel that the burden of reform is falling disproportionately on ordinary households.

The Tinubu administration has, therefore, reached an important stage in its political journey. The initial period was dominated by difficult reforms and promises of future recovery. The next phase will increasingly be judged by whether Nigerians can feel the benefits of those reforms in their daily lives.

For the government, the challenge is to demonstrate that the sacrifices made by citizens are producing tangible rewards. For Nigerians, the expectation is not perfection but meaningful improvement. The success of Tinubu’s presidency may ultimately be judged not merely by the reforms introduced or projects commissioned, but by whether the ordinary Nigerian can look back and say that the difficult years produced a better life. That is the real test of renewed hope.

Thlama Maina Samuel,

300-level Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Borno State