Nigeria’s opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has criticised the economic policies introduced by President Bola Tinubu, claiming the reforms have intensified hardship and pushed more Nigerians into poverty.
The party’s reaction follows a defence of the government’s economic policies by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which accused opposition groups of deliberately stirring public discontent against the administration.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the ADC argued that recent data and opinion surveys show the country’s economic conditions have deteriorated since the current administration removed the petrol subsidy and introduced other fiscal measures.
The statement was signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who said the debate should focus on the everyday realities Nigerians are facing rather than political exchanges between parties.
Read Also:
- PDP BoT holds emergency meeting in Abuja after Court of Appeal ruling
- 9 senators defect to ADC citing internal party wranglings
- Zamfara governor explains defection from PDP to APC
According to Abdullahi, an independent report indicates that Nigeria’s poverty rate has climbed to about 63 percent, compared to roughly 50 percent before the fuel subsidy was removed. He said this suggests that millions of additional citizens have slipped below the poverty line since the reforms began.
The ADC also argued that the removal of the fuel subsidy has triggered a sharp increase in petrol prices nationwide, which has in turn pushed up transportation costs and food prices.
Abdullahi noted that petrol prices have risen from around ₦255 per litre when President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 to nearly ₦1,500 per litre in several parts of the country, placing additional pressure on household budgets.
Citing survey findings, the opposition party said many Nigerians believe the country is moving in the wrong direction economically. According to the party, a large majority of respondents described the national economy as poor and said their personal living conditions have deteriorated.
The ADC also rejected claims by the APC that the current economic hardship is temporary. It argued that available data suggests a deeper and more widespread economic crisis affecting millions of households.
According to the party, recent surveys indicate that many Nigerians have gone without basic necessities such as adequate food, medical care, cooking fuel, clean water and stable income at various times over the past year.
The opposition further questioned how savings from the removal of the fuel subsidy, estimated at about ₦6.4 trillion are being utilised. The party claimed that only a small portion of funds had been released for capital projects in Nigeria’s federal healthcare sector in 2025.
The ADC said Nigerians deserve greater transparency regarding how public funds are being managed following the subsidy removal and called on the government to provide clearer explanations as the cost of living continues to rise across the country.
