Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, running on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has vowed to tackle prohibitive interest rates and expand access to long-term credit facilities to drive industrial growth and job creation across the Southeast region.
Addressing stakeholders during a regional town hall engagement, Makinde noted that while the Southeast is widely recognised for commercial trading, vibrant manufacturing hubs in cities like Onitsha and Nnewi demonstrate the area's immense industrial capacity. He stated that sustainable employment generation requires deliberate policies to support local manufacturers rather than relying heavily on short-term credit facilities geared primarily toward trade.
What economic reforms has Makinde proposed?
The presidential hopeful stressed that economic expansion is stifled when borrowing costs remain excessively high. Highlighting his background in the private sector, Makinde pointed out that a healthy economy is characterised by the availability of long-term financing that allows businesses to scale production. His proposed administration aims to shift Nigeria's economic focus away from reliance on federal revenue distribution toward sustainable production and industrial expansion.
In addition to industrial financing, the campaign has partnered with SkillResert Nigeria to train one million young citizens, equipping them with immediate employable skills. Makinde's broader national development strategy is anchored on four primary pillars: economic restructuring, enhanced security architecture, educational reform, and socio-political revitalisation. The party's comprehensive manifesto, shaped by consultations across the country's six geopolitical zones, is scheduled for official release on November 4, 2026.
Criticising the current administration's fiscal policies, the APM leadership and campaign team questioned the continuous accumulation of public debt despite claims of robust revenue performance. Campaign Director-General Felix Hyat and party officials urged Southeast voters to rally behind Makinde's ticket, which pairs the governor with a seasoned security expert to tackle the nation's prevailing socioeconomic and security challenges.