Bola Tinubu’s reforms have improved public finances and investor sentiment but fuelled Nigeria's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. (EPA Images pic)KADUNA: President Bola Tinubu formally launched his campaign for a second term on Saturday in the northern city of Kaduna, where he sought to convince voters that painful economic reforms are beginning to pay off despite a lingering cost-of-living crisis.

Tinubu, 74, faces a contest ahead of a Jan 16 election that is likely to be dominated by the economy and security. His main challengers include former vice-president Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who finished second and third respectively in 2023.

By midday, thousands of supporters of the president's All Progressives Congress party had filled much of the 10,000-capacity Ranchers Bees Stadium, with more arriving as the rally got underway.