The Arewa Voters Assembly says the reported N3.3 trillion fuel tax waiver and improving economic indicators demonstrate President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to easing the financial burden on Nigerians.
The Arewa Voters Assembly (AVA) has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies, describing the World Bank’s October 2026 Nigeria Development Update as evidence that the administration’s reforms are beginning to yield positive results.
In a press statement issued on Monday, October 13, 2026, the group said the report, titled “Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Reshaped State Priorities,” provides independent validation of the government’s economic reform programme.
The statement, signed by AVA National Coordinator, Comrade Iliasu Musa, and Secretary, Comrade Paul Katuka, said the reported improvement in key economic indicators and the increase in revenue available to state governments demonstrate the potential benefits of the reforms.
The group also argued that the administration’s reported decision to waive more than N3.3 trillion in fuel-related taxes, tariffs and import duties showed its commitment to reducing the impact of high fuel prices on households and businesses.
World Bank report highlights economic growth
According to the figures cited by AVA, Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, compared with 3.9 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025.
The group also cited projections that economic growth could average at least 4.4 per cent between 2026 and 2028.
On inflation, AVA said the rate declined from 27.6 per cent in January 2025 to 15.2 per cent in December 2025, with further easing projected over the coming years.
The statement also highlighted an increase in Nigeria’s current account surplus to $12 billion in the first half of 2026, compared with $8.6 billion in the same period of 2025.
It added that gross external reserves reportedly rose from $45.5 billion in December 2025 to $53.8 billion in August 2026, citing more recent figures of $54.9 billion.
AVA maintained that the indicators reflected improvements in economic stability, foreign exchange management and investor confidence.
The group, however, did not provide the underlying World Bank tables or links supporting the figures in its statement.
States record increased revenue, capital spending
The assembly said federal fiscal reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, had contributed to increased revenue available for distribution to the three tiers of government.
Citing the report, AVA said federation revenues increased by 69 per cent in real terms between 2023 and 2025, while state governments recorded a 151 per cent increase in real capital expenditure.
It said the additional resources had created opportunities for state governments to invest in roads, transportation, agriculture, energy, housing and other essential infrastructure.
The group also cited an increase in real social spending per person in 34 of the 35 states covered by the report.
According to AVA, the figures suggest that the benefits of economic reforms could extend beyond federal government finances to public services and infrastructure at the state level.
N3.3trn fuel tax waiver
A major focus of the statement was the reported N3.3 trillion waiver of fuel-related taxes, tariffs and import duties by the Tinubu administration.
AVA said the waiver, reportedly covering the period up to September 30, 2026, was intended to moderate petrol prices and reduce the pressure of rising transportation and living costs on Nigerians.
The group also highlighted other measures it said were designed to ease the burden on commuters, including the reported decision by NNPC Retail to forgo its profit margin for 30 days and a proposed wholesale petrol price ceiling of N1,350 per litre.
It further pointed to the expansion of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicle initiatives as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs.
The statement cited CNG bus deployments in several states, including Ekiti, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Katsina and Kano, alongside electric buses and tricycles.
AVA claimed that the use of alternative-fuel buses had reduced fares on some routes, citing a reduction in fares between Masaka and Berger in Abuja from N1,500 to N500, as well as lower fares on selected routes in Enugu and Borno states.
The group argued that sustained investment in alternative-fuel transportation could help cushion commuters against fluctuations in petrol prices.
Security, agriculture and social investment
Beyond the economy, AVA said the administration had continued to prioritise national security, food production, healthcare, education and industrial development.
On security, the group maintained that improved military training, modern equipment and changing operational tactics were necessary to address banditry and insurgency.
It also attributed increased oil production and government revenue to efforts to curb oil theft, while arguing that greater stability in the foreign exchange market had improved the ability of businesses to plan and invest.
On agriculture, AVA said the administration’s emphasis on mechanisation, irrigation and agricultural financing was intended to increase domestic food production, improve farmers’ earnings and make food more affordable.
The group also highlighted government-backed education and social intervention programmes.
It cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), claiming that more than 1.6 million students had benefited from support covering tuition and upkeep allowances.
The statement further referenced the National Social Register, consumer credit initiatives and the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme as efforts to expand access to social support, credit and digital skills for young Nigerians.
It added that investments in domestic refining, solid minerals and industrial production were important to reducing dependence on imports and diversifying the economy.
AVA challenges opposition over subsidy policy
The assembly criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi over their criticisms of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies.
It argued that the reported fuel tax waiver contradicted claims that the president’s policies were deliberately designed to punish Nigerians.
AVA specifically challenged Atiku to explain how he would finance a return to petrol production subsidies, which the group said could impose significant costs on public finances.
According to the statement, any proposal to reintroduce subsidies should be accompanied by a clear explanation of its funding, sustainability and long-term economic implications.
The assembly maintained that policy alternatives should be assessed based on their costs, expected benefits and implications for public revenue.
Calls for support ahead of 2027 elections
The group also urged Nigerians to assess the administration based on its economic performance and the extent to which government policies improve living conditions.
It called on supporters, youth organisations and women’s groups to take the message of the World Bank report and the reported fuel tax waiver to markets, motor parks, campuses, churches and mosques.
On the 2027 general elections, AVA expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure victory, insisting that his administration’s record would determine voters’ decisions.
The group also called on Nigerians to disregard what it described as misleading narratives surrounding the Electoral Act and the use of Form EC8A as the official polling-unit result sheet.
The assembly concluded that the success of the administration’s economic programme would ultimately depend on whether improved fiscal and macroeconomic indicators translate into lower living costs, better public services, job opportunities and improved welfare for ordinary Nigerians.