Olùfẹ́ ẹ̀, báwo ni o ṣe máa dojú kọ ìṣòro ọrọ̀-ajé orílẹ̀-èdè Nàìjíríà, àìléwu, ìyíyẹ owó epo tí ń ga sí i lẹ́yìn ìyọkúrò sọ́bàsìdì, àìríṣẹ́ṣe, àti iye owó ẹ̀kọ́ tí ó ga? Ṣé ìwọ yóò fi ipò àkọ́kọ́ fún àwọn sikolashipu àti ìrànwọ́ owó ẹ̀kọ́ ju àwọn láànù akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ lọ, kí o sì ṣẹ̀dá ànfààní iṣẹ́ sí i fún àwọn ọ̀dọ́ Nàìjíríà

On the economic hardship you are facing, I want to restore your purchasing power and reduce the cost of living. That means reducing the cost of energy so your salary buys more, reducing transport costs so less of your wage disappears just getting to work, and reducing the cost of moving food so your family spends less in the market. Alongside this, I am putting in place a financing programme for start-ups and entrepreneurs, to help move young Nigerians from dependence to enterprise.

On insecurity, my plan covers every part of Nigeria. I am committed to setting up Anti-Banditry and Kidnapping Special Units in every state command, made up of highly trained, mobile personnel. I will adopt a firehose principle for security coordination, driving continuous, high-volume coordination across jurisdictions so we get faster responses and stronger intelligence sharing. Bordering states will jointly plan operations, share intelligence in real time, and coordinate responses, and I will push for an independent Internal Affairs Agency to investigate misconduct within police and other security services, alongside joint security frameworks with neighbouring countries facing the same threats.

On rising fuel costs, I have always believed the removal of the fuel subsidy was necessary, because it had become a drain that enriched middlemen. What I would prioritise is tackling corruption, starting with repositioning the NNPCL, and paying attention to our poor refining infrastructure. I would commence privatisation of state-owned refineries and work to ensure Nigeria refines at least 50% of its own crude output, with an aspiration to export 50% of that capacity to ECOWAS countries. Alongside this, I want to reduce the cost of energy itself, so it goes further in your pocket.

On unemployment, I am putting in place a financing programme for start-ups and entrepreneurs, so young Nigerians can move from dependence to enterprise, from unemployment to productivity.

On the high cost of education, my approach will reduce the underlying cost of education and provide forgiveness for qualifying student debts. My administration will provide non-repayable scholarships, grants and bursaries instead of forcing students into debt, while forgiving existing student loan obligations and directly reducing university tuition costs for low-income families.

Yes, I would prioritise scholarships and grants over loans. A student loan is not a scholarship, it is a liability, and my administration will provide non-repayable scholarships, grants and bursaries instead of forcing students into debt.

On creating job opportunities for you, Nigeria's young people, I am determined to expand transparent access to finance for young entrepreneurs, artisans, farmers, technology founders and people in the creative economy. Your surname, your political connections, or whether you can find a godfather, should not decide whether your idea gets a chance to succeed. A financing programme for start-ups and entrepreneurs is part of this plan.

As practical steps for a safer, more prosperous Nigeria, I am bringing together the security measures I have outlined, with special units against banditry and kidnapping and stronger cross-border coordination, alongside action to reduce the cost of energy, transport and food, and a financing programme that opens real opportunity to young entrepreneurs across the country.

Sources:
• Post by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/1754193614513525015, 2024-02-04 (Post on X)
“The economy's performance has, in recent weeks and months, been a subject of intense discourse among Nigerian citizens at home and abroad. Nigerians are grav…”
• Post by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/1795708957018776000, 2024-05-29 (Post on X)
“Predictably, 12 months on, Tinubu’s pledge of growing the economy and ending misery remains unfulfilled. His actions or inactions have significantly worsened…”
• Thread by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/1763109780443328986, 2024-02-29 (Thread on X)
“3. The finances required to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructur…