Nigeria’s opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has criticised the economic policies introduced by President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the reforms have deepened hardship and pushed more Nigerians into poverty.
The party was reacting to comments from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which had earlier defended the government’s economic direction and accused opposition voices of stirring public anger against the administration.
In a fresh statement released on Sunday, the ADC said available data and opinion surveys suggest that the country’s economic situation has worsened significantly since the current administration removed petrol subsidy and introduced other fiscal adjustments.
The statement was signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
According to the opposition party, the debate is not about politics but about the real conditions Nigerians are experiencing daily.
“The African Democratic Congress, ADC, takes note of the ruling party, APC’s response to our earlier statement on the rising poverty figures under the Bola Tinubu-led government. But instead of addressing the clear evidence that more Nigerians are falling into poverty under this government, the ruling party has chosen to attack the opposition and dismiss the lived realities of millions of citizens. Facts, however, cannot be dismissed by press statements.
“The independent report that triggered this debate shows that Nigeria’s poverty rate has risen to 63 percent, up from about 50 percent before the removal of petrol subsidy. This means that tens of millions of additional Nigerians have been pushed into poverty in the period since the administration’s failed economic policies were introduced. The APC claims Nigerians support its reforms, yet the data says otherwise,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC further argued that the removal of fuel subsidy has triggered a steep rise in petrol prices across the country, creating a ripple effect on transport fares and food prices.
“The APC speaks proudly of macroeconomic indicators, but Nigerians live in a real economy where fuel prices have surged by almost 500 percent, from about N255 per litre in May 2023 when Tinubu came into office, to around N1,500 per litre today in many parts of this country. This is pushing up transport costs and driving food prices beyond the reach of millions of households.
“Independent surveys show that 93 percent of Nigerians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. Eighty-eight percent describe the national economy as bad, while 74 percent say their personal living conditions are poor.
‘’These are not opposition talking points. They are the views of Nigerians themselves, APC members included,” Abdullahi said.
The party also dismissed the ruling party’s claim that the economic hardship currently experienced by citizens will soon pass.
According to the ADC, available statistics point to a deeper and more widespread economic crisis affecting millions of households.
“The APC also insists that the hardship Nigerians are experiencing is ‘transient.’ But the numbers tell a different story.
‘Recent surveys show that 82 per cent of Nigerians report going without enough food at least once in the past year, 82 per cent have gone without medical care, 79 percent have gone without cooking fuel, 74 percent have gone without clean water, and 95 percent have gone without a cash income at some point during the year. These figures point not to temporary discomfort, but to widespread and deepening economic distress.
“The APC claims that the money previously spent on fuel subsidy, which should amount to roughly N6.4 trillion in savings last year alone, is now being redirected to ‘vital sectors’ such as healthcare and social development.
‘’However, it is on record that only N36 million, just about 0.02 per cent of the capital budget, was actually released for capital projects in 2025 for Nigeria’s entire federal healthcare sector.
“Nigerians are therefore left to ask a simple question: if the subsidy savings are truly being redirected to critical sectors, where exactly is all the money going? Why are local contractors not paid? Why are the universities still poorly equipped?”
The party maintained that Nigerians deserve greater transparency on how public funds are being managed since the removal of subsidy.
The statement added that citizens are increasingly demanding clear answers from the government as the cost of living continues to rise.
