Former Minister of Transportation Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, arguing that Nigerians should give the administration more time to deliver the expected benefits of its economic reforms.
Speaking in Jalingo, Taraba State, Sambo expressed confidence in the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. He maintained that although many citizens are facing financial difficulties, the government’s reform programme could deliver long-term economic stability and prosperity.
Key Takeaways
- Former Transportation Minister Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has backed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
- Sambo acknowledged concerns over the rising cost of living but defended the administration’s economic reforms.
- He said infrastructure investment and other government interventions could contribute to long-term economic stability.
- The former minister argued that government officials and party stakeholders need to explain the benefits of the reforms more clearly to ordinary Nigerians.
- Sambo expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects in the 2027 elections.
Sambo Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reform Agenda
Sambo acknowledged that the rising cost of living has placed considerable pressure on Nigerians. However, he argued that the administration believes the difficulties associated with its current policies could be necessary to achieve lasting economic and financial stability.
QUOTE BLOCK — MU’AZU JAJI SAMBO
“We are not oblivious to the feedback from the common man and the general increase in cost of living. However, we believe that the sacrifices being made today are necessary for enduring economic and financial stability.”
His remarks reflect the position he has taken in support of the administration’s reform programme, despite the economic challenges he recognises. Sambo maintained that the government’s policies should be assessed with their anticipated long-term outcomes in mind.
He also expressed confidence that Nigerians would eventually experience improvements as the reforms and infrastructure investments begin to produce results.
QUOTE BLOCK — MU’AZU JAJI SAMBO
“Nigerians can rest assured that it will get better. I firmly believe that the reforms, coupled with other interventions, including increased spending on infrastructure projects, will ultimately translate into long-term economic stability and prosperity for the people.”
Sambo’s comments place infrastructure spending alongside economic reforms as part of the administration’s broader development agenda. However, his statements represent his assessment of the expected outcomes rather than independent evidence that those benefits have already been achieved.
Former Minister Says Government Must Explain Reforms Better
Beyond defending the administration’s policies, Sambo identified public communication as an area requiring greater attention.
He argued that government officials and political stakeholders need to explain the purpose and expected benefits of the reforms in language that ordinary Nigerians can easily understand. In his view, inadequate communication has made it harder for citizens to appreciate what the government says it is trying to achieve.
QUOTE BLOCK — MU’AZU JAJI SAMBO
“Undoubtedly, PBAT is working, but we need men and women who will translate the impact of his work into simple terms that the common man on the street can understand. Many people are not adequately explaining the benefits of these reforms, either in the short or over the long term.”
The statement highlights a distinction between implementing government policies and communicating their effects to the public. Sambo’s argument is that officials and party stakeholders have a responsibility to make the administration’s objectives and anticipated outcomes clearer to citizens.
His acknowledgement of public concerns over living costs also indicates that support for the reform agenda does not remove the need to address how economic pressures affect ordinary households.
Sambo Calls for Support for Tinubu’s National Development Agenda
The former minister further urged Nigerians and political leaders to work together in support of Tinubu’s national development programme.
QUOTE BLOCK — MU’AZU JAJI SAMBO
“I believe it is high time all of us joined hands with President Tinubu to build our country.”
Sambo’s appeal presents national development as a collective responsibility and reinforces his backing for the President’s second-term ambition.
He also expressed optimism that the APC would attract widespread support across the country in the 2027 elections. That expectation remains his political assessment; the eventual electoral outcome will be determined by voters and the electoral process.
Sambo’s Political Background and Tinubu’s 2027 Ambition
Sambo previously served as Minister of State for Works and Housing before becoming Minister of Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He also coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima campaign in Taraba State during the 2023 presidential election.
His latest comments combine support for Tinubu’s re-election bid with a defence of the administration’s economic direction. They also draw attention to a communication challenge he believes the government and its political allies need to address as they seek public support.
As political attention turns towards 2027, Sambo’s endorsement is one expression of support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition. His argument rests on the belief that the reforms and infrastructure investments will yield longer-term benefits, while his call for clearer communication acknowledges the importance of explaining those policies to Nigerians.
For now, the central issues raised by Sambo are the continuation of the reform agenda, the public’s experience of economic pressures and the need for government stakeholders to communicate policy objectives more effectively.
