The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to apologise to Nigerians over the hardship associated with the administration’s economic policies.
Atiku also demanded a full account of the Federal Government’s borrowing, debt-servicing obligations and the use of increased government revenues.
This was contained in a statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, in which Atiku criticised the government’s economic policies and questioned why borrowing had continued despite increased revenue.
Atiku said Nigerians could not be expected to measure economic progress through government revenue announcements while households continued to struggle with food, transportation and other basic expenses.
He said the situation was reflected in an assessment by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which stated in June 2026 that Nigeria’s reforms had improved macroeconomic outcomes but that conditions remained difficult for many citizens. The IMF estimated poverty at 63 per cent under the national poverty line and said 27 million Nigerians had faced food insecurity in late 2025.
Atiku said higher fuel, food and transport costs could further worsen the situation.
He also cited rising petrol prices, saying the product was selling at about N1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja and as high as N1,500 in parts of northern Nigeria in September, while diesel had exceeded N2,000 per litre.
“The philosophy of an economic reform cannot be that the poor surrender more and more while those already insulated from hardship become increasingly comfortable. Nigerians were promised that today’s pain would produce tomorrow’s gain. After more than three years, they are entitled to ask: gain for whom?” he said.
“A mother cannot feed her children with a government revenue announcement. A worker cannot pay transport fare with a speech about reform. Nigerians do not eat GDP figures, FAAC allocations or PowerPoint presentations. The numbers must eventually arrive at the dinner table.”
The former vice president also questioned the continued accumulation of public debt.
Recent reporting based on Debt Management Office figures puts Nigeria’s total public debt at N166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026.
Atiku asked the Federal Government to provide details of old debts, new loans contracted since Tinubu assumed office, repayments made and outstanding obligations.
He also called for clarification of Treasury Bills borrowing and other debt-service charges.
The ADC candidate said the government should demonstrate what Nigerians had gained from the sacrifices associated with its economic reforms.
“An apology is not too much to ask from a government under whose watch many Nigerians have been pushed into deeper economic distress,” Atiku said.
“Good economics must ultimately improve human life. If government revenue rises while families become poorer, Nigerians have right to demand full account.”
He urged the administration to reconcile the country’s borrowing, explain outstanding charges and demonstrate how government spending has translated into improved living conditions for Nigerians.
