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2027: Former lawmaker Onuigbo launches campaign for Tinubu’s re-election – EnviroNews
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As political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to gather momentum, the newly elected President of GLOBE Legislators International (GLI) and former two-term member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, has joined calls for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Onuigbo formally flagged off his campaign for Tinubu’s second term at the weekend during a stakeholders’ engagement held at his Odozi Obodo Hills country home in Obuohia Obi-Ibere, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State.
The campaign was launched under the platform of the Odozi Obodo Campaign Organisation, with Onuigbo urging Nigerians to support President Tinubu for another term to enable him consolidate the reforms and policies initiated since assuming office in 2023.
Explaining his support for the President, Onuigbo said Nigerians should “keep their eyes on the ball” and focus on securing Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
According to him, the administration had taken difficult but necessary decisions aimed at restructuring the Nigerian economy and laying the foundation for long-term growth.
Onuigbo, who represented the South-East on the Board of the North-East Development Commission, identified the removal of the fuel subsidy as one of the administration’s boldest policy decisions.
He argued that the subsidy regime largely benefited a small segment of the population and said its removal had helped increase revenues available to the three tiers of government.
He also commended the administration’s efforts to unify Nigeria’s exchange-rate system, describing the reform as a major step towards improving transparency and restoring investor confidence.
According to Onuigbo, the economic reforms had helped position Nigeria as an increasingly attractive destination for foreign direct investment in Africa.
He said allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) had risen significantly since the removal of the fuel subsidy, providing state and local governments with increased resources for infrastructure and development projects.
Onuigbo claimed that FAAC allocations increased from N711 billion in 2023 to N4.5 trillion in 2026, adding that the improved revenue inflow had enabled governments at the subnational level to undertake more development initiatives.
He also pointed to developments in Nigeria’s refining sector, crude oil production and foreign reserves as indicators of the impact of the administration’s reforms.
“Our refining capacity has increased from 30,000 barrels per day in 2023 to 700,000 barrels per day in 2026. Nigeria was struggling with crude oil production output of 1.3 million barrels per day in 2023; today, Nigeria has exceeded its OPEC quota by producing over 1.73 million barrels per day, with foreign reserves increasing from $3.99 billion in 2023 to $51.9 billion in the first half of 2026,” he said.
Onuigbo also highlighted the Federal Government’s investment in education, citing more than N300 billion invested in the Nigeria Education Loans Fund (NELFUND).
The former lawmaker further claimed that President Tinubu’s foreign engagements had attracted more than $50 billion in foreign direct investment commitments, including about $20 billion recorded in 2026.
He attributed the reported increase in investor confidence to the administration’s exchange-rate reforms and efforts to eliminate distortions in the foreign exchange market.
According to him, the relative stability of the economy and the exchange rate had also attracted international recognition for the Tinubu administration.
Onuigbo further cited Nigeria’s reported Gross Domestic Product growth, which he said rose from 2.74 per cent in 2023 to 3.9 per cent in 2026.
He described the growth as particularly significant because of the increasing contribution of non-oil sectors such as financial technology, agriculture and solid minerals.
Turning to the South-East, Onuigbo said President Tinubu had demonstrated a commitment to inclusive governance through policies, infrastructure initiatives and appointments involving the region.
He cited the establishment of the South-East Development Commission as a major intervention, alongside the appointment of senior military officers from the zone.
Other initiatives he attributed to the administration include plans for a rail network linking Enugu and Port Harcourt, approval for the construction of Abia Airport, expansion of the Enugu and Owerri airports, and approval for South-East governors to undertake the reconstruction of selected federal roads with provisions for reimbursement.
Onuigbo said the initiatives reflected what he described as a deliberate effort by the Tinubu administration to promote inclusive development and address infrastructure gaps across the country.
He urged political stakeholders and Nigerians to support the President’s re-election bid, arguing that a second term would provide the administration with an opportunity to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete major development programmes.
