morganabLE Politics/Elections
The President said the administration would pursue an economic growth strategy that would extend prosperity to households, markets, farms and workplaces across the country.
Kano—
President Bola Tinubu has pledged to recruit an additional 28,000 military personnel and 50,000 police officers as part of plans to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities if re-elected in 2027.
The commitments are contained in the 109-page All Progressives Congress 2027 presidential election manifesto, titled From Reform to Prosperity Agenda 2027–2031, obtained by Punch News.
The manifesto also outlines plans to achieve six per cent annual economic growth, facilitate the construction of 200,000 affordable homes, recruit 20,000 additional teachers and sustain a downward trajectory in inflation and food prices by 2031.
The APC leadership is scheduled to unveil the manifesto on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. The event is expected to begin at 11am.
Under the proposed agenda, Tinubu said his second term would focus on translating the economic reforms and foundations laid during his first tenure into tangible improvements in the living conditions of Nigerians.
The President said the administration would pursue an economic growth strategy that would extend prosperity to households, markets, farms and workplaces across the country.
On the country’s expected situation by 2031, the manifesto identified improved security, lower living costs, food security, reliable electricity, employment opportunities, quality education and accessible healthcare as major priorities.
On security, the President promised stronger protection against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, alongside improved police response and better border security.
The document stated, “Safer lives and communities: Stronger protection against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping; a police service that responds when needed; and better protection of our borders.”
To achieve this, Tinubu pledged to strengthen the Armed Forces and other security agencies through improved recruitment, specialised training, modern equipment, intelligence gathering and better welfare for personnel.
The manifesto specifically outlined plans to complete the establishment and equipping of four new Army divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City.
It also promised to recruit and train the 28,000 additional military personnel already approved and publicly report their deployment.
The administration further plans to sustain intelligence-led military operations against insurgent and kidnapping networks to dismantle their operational bases.
It said independent verification of reported operational outcomes would be introduced to strengthen public confidence in security operations.
The manifesto also proposed strengthening surrender, rehabilitation and deradicalisation programmes through standardised reporting on screened, reintegrated and prosecuted ex-combatants.
It added that specialised zonal counter-terrorism capabilities would be established, while physical security would be strengthened in schools, commercial markets, places of worship and major transport corridors.
On policing, Tinubu pledged to train and deploy 50,000 newly recruited officers and expand recruitment and tactical training towards a police-to-citizen ratio of one officer to 400 Nigerians.
The proposed target is expected to increase police visibility in residential neighbourhoods, commercial centres, schools and transit corridors.
The President also promised to implement a nationwide police reform programme involving digital record systems, officers’ body cameras, geographic mapping tools, emergency response channels and modern forensic facilities.
The measures, according to the manifesto, are intended to improve crime prevention, accountability and the capacity of police officers to respond to security threats.
In addition to the proposed police recruitment, the administration plans to recruit 30,150 personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to take over static security duties currently performed by the police.
The manifesto also proposed working with federal and state lawmakers and governors to establish a legal framework for accountable state and community policing.
On border security, the APC promised to complete electronic surveillance coverage of all mapped border areas, noting that 31 of the 190 identified areas remained uncovered.
It also plans to expand electronic gates, advance passenger information systems and the Migration Information and Data Analysis System to additional entry points.
The administration further pledged to complete nationwide deployment of Mining Marshals across identified mining sites.
According to the document, more than 530 mining sites have been identified, with 420 already receiving protection.
It also proposed deploying trained Forest Guards, Agro-Rangers and Mining Marshals to protect agricultural belts, farming communities, grazing routes, national forest reserves and mineral deposits.
Beyond security, the manifesto outlined an ambitious economic growth target of six per cent annually by 2031.
It also promised to halve youth unemployment and expand access to equitable credit to half of all economically active Nigerians.
On the cost of living, the President pledged to sustain a downward trajectory in inflation, expand domestic food production, storage and processing, and halve post-harvest losses.
The administration also intends to improve the movement of goods between states to reduce transportation costs and make food more affordable.
The manifesto stated that the government would scale available electricity generation towards 10,000 megawatts, extend metering towards full coverage and strengthen transmission and distribution networks.
It also promised to expand access to clean energy in underserved communities to improve electricity supply for households and businesses.
In the housing sector, Tinubu pledged to facilitate the construction of 200,000 affordable homes for Nigerian workers by 2031 through the Tinubu Mass Social Housing Scheme, mortgage financing and partnerships with licensed private developers.
He said the initiative would provide more working households with access to decent accommodation while strengthening regulations to protect property buyers.
Under education, the President promised to recruit and train 20,000 additional teachers and halve the number of out-of-school children.
The manifesto also outlined plans to improve school completion rates and ensure more Nigerian children have access to quality education.
In healthcare, the administration intends to increase the number of functional primary healthcare centres to at least 90 per cent nationwide, from the current 53 per cent.
It also promised to expand active health insurance coverage to 40 per cent of Nigerians, up from more than 23 million enrollees.
On governance and accountability, Tinubu pledged to extend digital case management systems to magistrate courts, track public service delivery and ensure local governments receive their constitutional allocations under clear performance standards.
The document further promised to implement the National Protection Policy and Strategy for Critical National Assets through real-time surveillance of energy pipelines, electricity grids, railways, schools and health facilities.
The President said the broader agenda would prioritise the protection of farmers, schoolchildren, traders and other Nigerians while creating an environment where citizens could live, work and travel without fear.
The manifesto presents the administration’s proposed priorities for a second term, with implementation targets extending to 2031.
However, the commitments remain campaign promises and would depend on the administration’s ability to secure the necessary funding, legislative support and institutional cooperation if Tinubu wins re-election in 2027.
