By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The Presidency has said the growing number of governors backing President Bola Tinubu has strengthened his political base ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, stated this while appearing on a television programme, arguing that the political landscape had changed significantly since the 2023 election.

Bwala said the support of governors was significant because they control political structures and grassroots networks in their respective states, which could be mobilised for Tinubu’s re-election.

“Since then, President Bola Tinubu has got how many governors on his side? The governors are the Chief Executive Officers of their respective states. They coordinate the structures of the state.

“These people say, ‘We are putting our goodwill, our resources, our structure, and our support to the President,’” he said.

Bwala also cited beneficiaries of government programmes as another factor strengthening Tinubu’s political position.

He listed the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), agricultural interventions, manufacturing incentives, CrediCorp and infrastructure projects among initiatives he said were benefiting Nigerians.

According to him, the programmes provide “facts, verifiable data” showing progress under the Tinubu administration since 2023.

He rejected suggestions that the administration’s confidence ahead of 2027 was based solely on divisions within the opposition, saying Tinubu’s record in office would also feature prominently in the campaign.

Bwala also challenged claims that Nigerians were dissatisfied with the President, saying such assessments should be backed by representative opinion polls.

“When you make a claim that Nigerians don’t like him, without saying, also, that there are a lot of people, one million families that the children have benefited from NELFUND, you think they hate him?” he asked.

On poverty and hunger, Bwala acknowledged that more Nigerians had fallen into poverty but attributed part of the hardship to the economic reforms introduced by the administration.

“More people went down to poverty, I acknowledge, I’m not doubting it. But there’s a but to it. Since when the reform started to today, we have made marked progress,” he said.

He maintained that the reforms were necessary to address longstanding economic challenges despite the short-term hardship experienced by many Nigerians.

Bwala also defended President Tinubu’s statement that Nigeria had moved from the “doldrums” towards prosperity, saying the President was referring to benefits already reaching citizens through government programmes and projects.

He cited NELFUND, subsidised healthcare, infrastructure development and support for small and medium-sized businesses as examples of such benefits.

“One million families whose children have benefited from the NELFUND programme, what they are benefiting is called prosperity,” he said.

Bwala further claimed that opposition figures had lost several influential allies who played key roles in the 2023 presidential campaigns.

He said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar no longer enjoyed the support of governors who backed him in 2023, while Peter Obi had also lost some of his major political allies.

“In terms of the other candidates who say he will not win, Atiku Abubakar lost close to 25 per cent of key people that you know around him. All the governors that worked for him that time are no longer with him,” Bwala said.

“Peter Obi lost 55 per cent of the critical people that carried his campaign; they’ve all disappeared. And some of them went to Atiku, some of them went wherever they could go to.”

Bwala expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances in 2027, arguing that the political support around the President was now significantly stronger than before the 2023 election.

His comments come amid continued political realignments and coalition efforts by opposition figures seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 polls.

By Tambaya Julius, Abuja 

Security operatives have rescued 20 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State on Thursday, October 1

A security source confirmed that the rescue operation was carried out by a joint team of operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and the Nigeria Police Force.

The source said the rescued corps members were receiving medical attention at a DSS facility in Imo State.

The corps members were abducted in the early hours of October 1 after gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses carrying passengers from Ibadan, Oyo State, and took them into the bush.

A video circulated on X showed that the victims were travelling to Akwa Ibom and Abia states in buses bearing the Abia State Government logo when the attackers intercepted the vehicles and robbed the passengers.

Confirming the incident, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said the attack occurred at about 6:30am, adding that 10 of the victims were rescued shortly afterwards.

Okoye said security operatives then launched a search and rescue operation, using intelligence to track the suspects and locate the remaining victims.

However, on Saturday, the abductors reportedly contacted the parents of the corps members and demanded N1 billion ransom for their release, giving the families 24 hours to pay.

Alhaja Akande and Oyebola Akande, who spoke on behalf of the affected families, said the kidnappers had been contacting them through the mobile phones of the abducted corps members.

Following the development, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to coordinate efforts to rescue the remaining victims.

The Force spokesperson, Anietie Iniedu, said Nadada had arrived in Imo State with two Commissioners of Police and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the operation.

He said the DIG reviewed the deployment of personnel and operational assets and directed security agencies to strengthen their coordinated response.

President Bola Tinubu said recent reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector are designed to unlock up to 50 billion dollars in new deep offshore investments.

Tinubu, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the fifth anniversary of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

The President said the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentive Tax Order 2026 had replaced uncertainty with clear and published investment criteria.

“The order replaces that uncertainty with clear, published criteria and requires projects to be executed in Nigeria wherever applicable.

“It is designed to unlock up to 50 billion dollars in new investment, beginning with the Bonga South-West project.

“The message to the world is simple: Nigeria is open for long-term investment and the terms are clear,” Tinubu said.

He said the measure was particularly important because some of Nigeria’s largest oil prospects were located deep offshore but had remained undeveloped for years.

According to him, the incentive is expected to unlock as much as 50 billion dollars in new investment, beginning with the Bonga South-West project.

Tinubu said the development reinforced the Federal Government’s message that Nigeria was open to long-term investment and committed to providing clear and predictable terms.

He said the PIA had provided a strong foundation for investment by establishing clear rules, a predictable regulatory framework and mechanisms for greater participation of host communities.

The President said Nigeria had also recorded progress in restoring security in oil-producing areas, attracting investors and improving upstream investment opportunities through open and competitive processes.

He said investors who previously looked elsewhere were returning to Nigeria, which had become Africa’s leading destination for upstream investment for two consecutive years.

Tinubu also highlighted the Host Communities Development Trusts, saying more than 170 host-community trusts had been funded to support projects in education, healthcare and other areas.

He said the development of host communities was particularly significant because sustainable peace in oil-producing areas depended on fairness, inclusion and shared benefits.

The President said the administration was determined to use petroleum resources to support a broader economy driven by agriculture, manufacturing, digital and creative industries.

He said the oil and gas sector would continue to provide gas for power, industries and factories while creating opportunities for Nigerian engineers, fabricators and indigenous service companies.

He said policy reforms would only deliver results when effectively implemented, placing a major responsibility on NUPRC to ensure predictable, transparent and reliable regulatory processes.

Tinubu charged the commission to work closely with sister agencies to ensure investors were not subjected to conflicting requirements or unnecessary delays.

He also urged operators to comply with their work programmes, local-content obligations, environmental standards and commitments to host communities in return for government incentives.

The President said the government would uphold the rule of law, sanctity of contracts and accountability as key pillars for sustaining investor confidence in the sector.

He said the administration would also pursue an energy transition strategy suited to Nigeria’s needs, with greater gas supply for power, industry and clean cooking, alongside expansion of renewable energy.

Tinubu congratulated the NUPRC on its fifth anniversary, urging its management and staff to sustain the commitment, integrity and sense of purpose required to consolidate gains in the upstream sector. (NAN)