Political analyst and barrister Darlington Agomuo has questioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s repeated calls for Nigerians to give his administration more time, arguing that millions of citizens are still waiting to feel the benefits of the government’s promised economic reforms.
Agomuo made the remarks during an appearance on VOP This Morning, a programme aired by Voice of the People Television, where he challenged the pace of progress under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
His comments come as political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections gather pace, with Tinubu seeking a second term in office. Through Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, the president has appealed to Nigerians to give his administration another opportunity to complete its reforms, correct past mistakes and deliver development and peace.
However, Agomuo questioned how much longer ordinary citizens should wait for meaningful improvements in their daily lives. He argued that after more than three years in power, many Nigerians are yet to experience the positive changes promised by the administration.
The analyst’s criticism reflects wider public concerns over the rising cost of living, particularly the prices of petrol, food and transportation, which continue to put pressure on household budgets.
The discussion also addressed the federal government’s decision to introduce a temporary petrol price relief measure at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stations.
Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele announced that petrol would be sold at cost, without the usual retail margin, for an initial period of 30 days. Public transport operators were expected to receive priority under the arrangement.
The measure was presented as an attempt to reduce the impact of rising international oil prices without bringing back the fuel subsidy removed in May 2023. The reported price ceiling was around ₦1,350 per litre.
However, opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress and representatives of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, criticised the initiative as a short term measure that would do little to address the wider economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
They argued that a temporary reduction in petrol costs could not reverse the sustained increases in transportation and living expenses experienced since the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.
Agomuo has previously argued on the same television platform that Nigeria’s economic problems are rooted largely in systemic corruption and the poor management of public resources rather than the fuel subsidy alone.
He has maintained that ordinary citizens should not be forced to carry the heaviest burden of economic adjustments while questions about accountability and the management of public funds remain unresolved.
His latest comments renewed questions about whether the government’s policies will deliver noticeable improvements before the next presidential election.
The television programme featured a split screen, with Agomuo speaking from the studio while another participant appeared in traditional attire in a formal setting. The programme’s ticker highlighted Tinubu’s second term ambition and opposition reactions to the petrol price measure.
The appearance was part of Agomuo’s continuing interventions on Voice of the People Television, where he has questioned government positions on economic policy, electoral preparations and institutional independence.
With the 2027 presidential election approaching, the debate over the impact of Tinubu’s reforms is likely to remain a major issue in national politics. Supporters of the administration have called for more time to allow its policies to take effect, while critics argue that the hardship facing ordinary people makes visible results increasingly urgent.
For Agomuo, the central question is whether Nigerians will begin to experience real improvements in their everyday lives or continue to wait for the benefits promised by the government.
As fuel, food and transportation costs remain key concerns for households and businesses, the administration faces continued pressure to demonstrate how its economic policies will translate into better living conditions for the people.
The debate is no longer only about whether reforms are necessary. It is also about when ordinary Nigerians will begin to feel their benefits.
