The Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Senator Austin Akobundu, has promised that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will review the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, and grant debt forgiveness to students if elected president.
Akobundu said Atiku's plan is to make education more accessible and less burdensome for Nigerian youths and their families.
According to him, young Nigerians should be supported to acquire skills and education without being pushed into heavy debt or financial distress.
He stated this on Friday in Abuja during the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre.
Akobundu said he accepted the appointment as Campaign DG with humility, noting that the job goes beyond ceremony.
He described his assignment as a call to lead a campaign that speaks directly to the daily hardships of ordinary Nigerians.
“This is not a ceremonial role. It is a call to lead a campaign for Nigerians who are asking a simple question: How can I afford to live? For the parent who must choose between paying school fees and buying food. For the worker whose salary disappears into transport and rent,” Akobundu said.
He accused the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government of asking Nigerians to endure hardship for almost four years without tangible relief.
Akobundu said families cannot survive on promises and businesses cannot operate on assurances that help is on the way.
He declared that the Atiku campaign would not allow the government to ignore the suffering of the people, stressing that government policies must reflect the realities of citizens.
“Our campaign will make that reality impossible to ignore. We will take people’s experiences seriously, explain how government’s choices affect daily lives, and offer a credible alternative. Atiku Abubakar’s message is clear: Tinubu made life expensive. I will make life affordable again,” he stated.
The Campaign DG said the focus of Atiku’s campaign will be on practical issues affecting Nigerians — affordable food, reduced transport cost, stable electricity, quality education, affordable healthcare and job creation.
He disclosed that Atiku’s economic blueprint prioritises local production and affordability, including the restoration of a targeted and budgeted production subsidy for fuel refined locally from day one of his administration.
He explained that the policy would boost local refining capacity, crash transport costs, and ultimately reduce food prices and cost of doing business.
Akobundu further said an Atiku presidency would implement the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy, secure farmlands for farmers, provide affordable credit facilities, reopen land borders for legitimate trade, and support agro-processing.
On power, he said Atiku would undertake comprehensive reforms to make electricity available and affordable for households and businesses.
He also promised to restore the Eastern maritime corridor to full operation to cut freight costs and give manufacturers in the South-East and South-South direct access to global markets.
Speaking on governance, Akobundu said Atiku would devolve more powers to states and local governments through a review of the Exclusive and Concurrent Legislative Lists, end selective budget implementation that leaves contractors unpaid, and address the plight of workers who now ration days they go to work due to high transport fares.
He added that Atiku would revamp the health sector and launch a transparent financing scheme for start-ups, with special focus on youths and women.
Akobundu said delivering on these promises would require experience, political will and capacity to unite Nigerians, qualities he said Atiku possesses.
He assured the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, party founder Chief Ralph Nwosu, members of the NWC, NEC, BOT and the Campaign Advisory Board of his commitment to work with all stakeholders to win the confidence of Nigerians ahead of the 2027 election.
He said the Council is working towards the emergence of Atiku Abubakar and Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as President and Vice President on May 29, 2027.
Akobundu also thanked the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam and the Chairman of the Campaign Advisory Board, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
He noted the absence of the Deputy Chairman of the Council and former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, which he linked to the actions of the current administration.
He charged party leaders and members of the Council to run an open, inclusive and issue-based campaign that respects the law and defends the right of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders.
