Businessman and political affairs consultant, Oluwole Aguda, has said President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms need sufficient time to deliver their intended benefits, arguing that a second term could help consolidate the gains and improve implementation.

Aguda made the remarks in an interview published on Saturday, where he assessed the administration’s economic policies, its prospects ahead of the 2027 general election and the political developments within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He acknowledged that the removal of petrol subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and other economic measures had imposed significant difficulties on Nigerians, particularly through rising costs of food, transportation, housing and healthcare.

However, he argued that the reforms were necessary to address structural weaknesses in the economy and prevent further deterioration of public finances.

Aguda cited the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which had disbursed more than ₦300 billion to over 1.5 million students across 319 tertiary institutions as of October 2026, as one of the interventions introduced under the administration.

He, however, cautioned that such initiatives had yet to translate into improved living conditions for most Nigerians, stressing that economic recovery should ultimately be measured by purchasing power, employment opportunities, productivity and access to essential services.

According to him, the President's argument for another term must go beyond the introduction of reforms to demonstrating measurable improvements in people's welfare.

Aguda also identified policy inconsistency as a major obstacle to Nigeria's development, warning that reversing economic measures before their outcomes could be properly assessed might undermine progress.

He argued that a second term would provide an opportunity to consolidate the reforms, improve execution and address outstanding challenges.

He also identified state police, greater naira stability and increased oil production as areas that could support economic and security improvements, while noting that the administration must demonstrate tangible progress.

On allegations of ethnic favouritism in federal appointments, Aguda said such concerns should neither be dismissed nor accepted without evidence. He called for objective assessments of appointments across government institutions to establish compliance with the federal character principle enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

He maintained that appointments to sensitive public positions should reflect competence, geographical balance and national inclusion, rather than political loyalty or personal relationships.

Addressing the administration's appeal to northern voters, Aguda said insecurity remained a major concern, particularly in communities affected by banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and displacement.

He noted that infrastructure projects and increased allocations to northern states were important but argued that the government must also demonstrate improvements in farmers' safety, access to education, the return of displaced persons and employment opportunities.

On political defections to the APC, he said political survival was a major motivation for some politicians joining the ruling party, while warning that democracy required a credible opposition capable of competing through ideas, programmes and performance.