The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, arguing that rising prices and living costs are putting increasing pressure on Nigerian households.
Atiku, in a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said government revenue figures and macroeconomic indicators offered little comfort to Nigerians struggling with the cost of basic necessities.
He argued that improvements reported in some economic indicators had not translated into easier living conditions for many households.
According to Atiku, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while acknowledging improvements in Nigeria’s macroeconomic indicators in June 2026, also noted that economic conditions remained difficult for a significant number of Nigerians.
He cited an IMF estimate that 63 per cent of Nigerians were living in poverty under the national poverty line, while about 27 million people had experienced food insecurity during the latter part of 2025.
Atiku also pointed to rising fuel, food and transportation costs, saying the pressure was making it increasingly difficult for families to meet their daily needs.
He said petrol prices had risen to about N1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja and as high as N1,500 in some parts of northern Nigeria in September, while diesel prices had crossed N2,000 per litre.
The former vice president questioned whether the benefits of the government’s economic reforms were reaching ordinary Nigerians.
“The philosophy of an economic reform cannot be that the poor surrender more and more while those already insulated from hardship become increasingly comfortable,” Atiku said.
He recalled assurances that the hardship accompanying the reforms would eventually lead to improved living conditions, but argued that Nigerians had a right to question the outcome after more than three years of the Tinubu administration.
“After more than three years, they are entitled to ask: gain for whom?” he asked.
Atiku said the government needed to measure the success of its economic policies by their impact on households rather than by official revenue announcements or economic presentations.
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“A mother cannot feed her children with a government revenue announcement. A worker cannot pay transport fare with a speech about reform,” he said.
“Nigerians do not eat GDP figures, FAAC allocations or PowerPoint presentations. The numbers must eventually arrive at the dinner table.”
The criticism comes as the Tinubu administration continues to defend its economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange regime, as necessary measures aimed at stabilising the economy and improving long-term growth.
The reforms have, however, remained a major political issue ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties continuing to question their impact on households and businesses.
