The Federal Government has announced plans to mobilize 4,000 social media influencers to showcase its infrastructure projects and communicate the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The influencers are to publicise infrastructure projects and other achievements under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Works David Umahi has said.
Umahi made the disclosure on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, in Abuja while receiving a report from the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) following its inspection of federal road projects across Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna and Sokoto states.
The minister said the proposed network of influencers would help the government communicate its activities and gains directly to Nigerians, particularly young people who are highly active on social media platforms, as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
“We have to fight this social media war. So, we have to launch 4,000 social media influencers to tell our stories,” Umahi stated.
He expressed pride in the infrastructure developments under the Tinubu administration and stressed the need for the government to actively present its record to the public. “You know I am proud of what the President is doing in infrastructure. I’m proud of all the gains we have made in various sectors of the economy, so we have to tell our stories. If you don’t say ‘I am’, nobody will tell you who you are,” he added.
Umahi noted that construction activities were widespread across the country, providing sufficient material for public communication. He also indicated that the initiative formed part of broader efforts to counter narratives on social media ahead of the next general elections.
Details such as the criteria for selecting the influencers, whether they will be paid, the timeline for mobilisation, and the specific platforms to be prioritised have not yet been disclosed.
The announcement came as NANS presented findings from its independent inspection of federal road projects in the four northern states. Umahi commended the students’ association for the exercise and said the government would consider requests for additional infrastructure, including pedestrian bridges around tertiary institutions.
The plan underscores the growing recognition of social media as a key channel for political and public communication in Nigeria, especially in engaging younger demographics ahead of the 2027 polls.
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