As Nigerians ushered in the year 2026, feelings of uncertainty, fear, and cautious hope dominated public conversations across the country. These emotions were largely influenced by the persistent insecurity and the economic adjustments experienced in the previous year, 2025, which deepened hardship for many citizens. Despite these concerns, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his New Year address delivered on January 1, 2026, expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future. He assured Nigerians that the economic reforms initiated in 2023 were gradually yielding results and had reached a stage of maturity. According to the President, these reforms are expected to stimulate economic expansion and integrate no fewer than 10 million Nigerians into productive economic activities. In this report, several Nigerians from different professional backgrounds shared their expectations for the Tinubu-led government in 2026, highlighting areas they believe require urgent attention to improve the well-being of citizens compared to the outgoing year. Transparency and Accountability in Tax Reforms A legal practitioner, Sylvester Agih, emphasized that the implementation of newly introduced tax laws would remain a major national issue throughout 2026. He noted that controversies surrounding alleged alterations of gazetted documents could continue to dominate public discourse if not properly addressed. According to him, President Tinubu must approach the enforcement of these tax laws with maturity, openness, and sincerity. He stressed that transparency would be crucial in restoring public confidence in government policies. Agih further stated that accountability should not end at tax collection. He explained that Nigerians deserve to see tangible evidence of how collected taxes translate into improved public services and infrastructure that directly benefit the common citizen. In his view, governance should ultimately reflect service to the people. Tackling Insecurity Across the Nation A Kwara-based entrepreneur and university lecturer, Hassan Alowonle, identified insecurity as his foremost concern for 2026. He urged the President to confront the problem decisively by dismantling all bandit and terrorist networks across the country, regardless of the social or political influence of those involved. Alowonle expressed deep concern over the surge in violent attacks in Kwara State, describing the level of insecurity experienced in 2025 as unprecedented. He lamented that residents now live in constant fear, unable to sleep peacefully, and called for urgent government intervention to restore safety and stability. Support for Farmers and Power Supply Improvement From another perspective, Benedict Onoja, a journalist based between Kaduna and Abuja, appealed to the President to prioritize the welfare of farmers, particularly those in rural and remote areas. He emphasized the importance of making fertilizers readily available and affordable to peasant farmers, noting that agricultural productivity is critical to national food security. Onoja also identified poor electricity supply as a major obstacle to the growth of small-scale businesses, urging the government to address the power sector more aggressively. Additionally, he called for a stronger political will to combat terrorism, especially in farming communities where insecurity has disrupted food production and livelihoods. Personal Resolve Over Government Expectations Offering a contrasting view, Mcfrederick Akor Edache, convener of the Frederick Emergency Response Support Initiative (FREER), stated that he holds no expectations from either the President or the Nigerian state in 2026. He explained that his focus is solely on achieving his personal goals without relying on government intervention or external assistance. While acknowledging that supportive policies could make life easier, he maintained that his aspirations remain independent of political developments. Addressing Unemployment and Fair Recruitment Another Nigerian, Divine Mike, appealed to President Tinubu to introduce policies aimed at reducing unemployment, particularly among young graduates. He lamented the rising unemployment rate and alleged that many public sector job opportunities are often monopolized by influential individuals, leaving qualified candidates unfairly excluded. According to him, this trend has denied many Nigerians the chance to contribute meaningfully to national development. Mike advised the President to adopt transparent recruitment practices similar to those implemented by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, where employment was based strictly on merit and examination performance rather than political connections. He also urged the President to intensify military action against terrorists and bandits, warning that reliance on foreign intervention could portray the government as weak. In his view, national security should be treated as a priority rather than a political tool. Food Prices, Fuel Costs, and Local Government Autonomy Patience Samuel appealed to the President to take decisive steps to regulate the prices of food items and petroleum products. She expressed concern that fuel prices often remain high at filling stations despite official announcements of reductions by relevant authorities. She also called on the President to enforce full compliance with the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy. According to her, many state governors continue to exert control over local government funds, releasing only a small portion to council chairmen. Samuel argued that this practice has hindered grassroots development and weakened local governance. She suggested that the Federal Government should withhold allocations from states that fail to comply with local government autonomy as a means of enforcing accountability.
The South-East region has renewed its call for a constitutional amendment that would institutionalize a rotational presidency system and grant full autonomy to local government administrations across Nigeria. This demand was voiced during the South-East Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, organized on Friday in Enugu by the Senate. During the event, the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, highlighted the critical importance of adopting rotational presidency principles for the South-East geopolitical zone. Governor Mbah, whose remarks were delivered by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, explained that embracing rotational leadership among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones would ensure each region — including the South-East — is fairly represented in the highest political office of the country. He noted that this approach would greatly strengthen national unity and foster a profound sense of belonging for all Nigerians. In the same vein, Mbah suggested that gubernatorial positions should rotate among senatorial zones within each state, while legislative seats should rotate among the constituencies. This, he argued, would improve inclusiveness and promote equitable participation across every level of the nation’s democratic framework. Furthermore, the governor advocated strongly for increased representation of women in government. He proposed the creation of one extra Senate seat for women per state and two additional seats in the House of Representatives specifically reserved for women. In addition, the Enugu State governor recommended that each state’s House of Assembly should have three extra seats allocated for women, to advance gender equality and guarantee women a more active role in governance and decision-making processes. Governor Mbah also called for the proper institutionalisation of local government councils as fully independent administrative units. He argued that the current system — in which state governors frequently appoint caretaker committees to administer local governments — limits local democracy and frustrates development at the grassroots level. Mbah emphasized that the constitutional review committee should amend the 1999 Constitution to enforce the democratic structure of local government councils, enabling them to gain direct access to their allocations from the National Consolidated Account. He further demanded legislative and fiscal reforms that would devolve greater power and resources to state governments. According to him, the excessive concentration of political and financial power at the federal level, which stems from Nigeria’s history of military rule, has restricted the growth and advancement of states. Mbah stressed that a functional federal structure must empower states as autonomous bodies with adequate authority and resources to positively affect their citizens’ welfare. Similarly, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State presented complementary demands. Through a speech delivered by Moses Odunwa, the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Nwifuru supported the need to reserve designated political seats for women. He also pressed for the creation of an additional state within the South-East geopolitical zone, explaining that it would bring the region into balance with other geopolitical regions across Nigeria in terms of state count and representation. According to Nwifuru’s representative, if certain seats were set aside exclusively for female candidates, every political party would be compelled to nominate women to contest and fill those seats, thereby expanding female participation in governance. The South-East Zonal Public Hearing on constitutional review brought together traditional rulers, representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and other government stakeholders to deliberate on how best to restructure Nigeria’s constitutional framework to achieve fairness, inclusivity, and sustainable national development.
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The foremost Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has sounded an alarm over the growing socio-economic crisis in Nigeria, warning that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may face rejection at the polls in 2027 if urgent measures are not taken to tackle worsening poverty, hunger, and national insecurity. In a strongly-worded declaration, the organization stressed that the administration’s continued neglect of Nigeria’s pressing challenges could provoke a widespread loss of public trust, potentially culminating in a mass voter backlash in the next general elections. The warning was issued by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Deputy President-General of a faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, through an official statement released on Thursday. He urged both the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to recognize and urgently respond to the grim realities that have become unbearable for many Nigerians. According to Isiguzoro, the unchecked surge in hardship is not only inflicting misery on ordinary citizens but is also likely to impede the ability of state governors to secure political support for Tinubu’s reelection campaign. “Many of these governors are misleading the President by giving false assurances,” the statement noted. “They exist in a bubble of deception, assuming they can deliver their states for APC in the 2027 elections, but this is a dangerous illusion.” Ohanaeze highlighted the strategic maneuvering of Northern Governors, whom it described as “subtle and cunning,” warning that this bloc poses a greater threat to Tinubu’s political future than he may currently recognize. The group emphasized the importance of engaging directly with this influential group to prevent future political betrayal. The organization further urged Tinubu to act decisively and with integrity to rebuild confidence among Nigerians. It stated that bold and people-focused reforms are the only path to reversing the public’s growing disillusionment. “The alliance with governors who are complicit in worsening economic and security problems must be reevaluated. Nigerians are disheartened by the lack of positive impact from fuel subsidy removal and the increased revenue that followed,” Ohanaeze declared. The group also decried the deliberate undermining of local government autonomy, despite a Supreme Court ruling in favor of decentralization, accusing state governors of hoarding resources and denying citizens access to vital services. They warned that unless new tax reform policies are backed by genuine administrative will and leadership change, they too will be sabotaged. Ohanaeze did not mince words, stating that unless Tinubu prioritizes resolving hunger, rising costs of living, insecurity, and poverty, any hope of seeking reelection in 2027 may prove futile. “The misleading narratives from the 36 governors are shielding Tinubu from the truth. Citizens are enduring unbearable inflation, skyrocketing food prices, and deteriorating living standards,” the group emphasized. According to Ohanaeze, this economic reality will heavily weigh on Tinubu’s campaign. The electorate, especially in the North, may choose to reject the President in favor of local interests, driven by disappointment and unmet expectations. The group also predicted fractures among Southern Governors, who will likely be caught in a tug-of-war between old political alliances and their dependence on Tinubu’s support for their own ambitions. “It is becoming increasingly difficult for these governors to secure support for Tinubu. Now is the time for real action: reduce electricity tariffs, reform the economic team, eliminate corruption, and invest seriously in agriculture and public infrastructure,” the statement concluded. Ohanaeze urged the President to look toward progressive models of leadership, such as Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, who has empowered young people through agricultural reforms and food security initiatives. They ended with a final stern message: “The current path is unsustainable. Without immediate and genuine reform, all political aspirations risk becoming irrelevant.”
