ADC warns Nigerians not to ignore APC’s failed economic policies

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) over claims that economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu are improving living standards, insisting instead that the policies have deepened poverty and worsened conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

In a statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said recent poverty figures and independent surveys show millions of Nigerians are struggling since the removal of the petrol subsidy, contradicting APC’s claims of success. “Facts cannot be dismissed by press statements,” he said, noting that Nigeria’s poverty rate has risen from about 50 percent to 63 percent since the subsidy removal, pushing tens of millions of citizens into deeper hardship.

Abdullahi also highlighted the sharp rise in fuel prices, which have surged by almost 500 percent—from roughly N255 per litre in May 2023 to around N1,500 per litre in many parts of the country—causing transport costs to soar and driving up food prices beyond the reach of many households.

He cited independent surveys showing that 93 percent of Nigerians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, 88 percent rate the national economy as bad, and 74 percent say their personal living conditions are poor. “These are not opposition talking points; they reflect the experiences of Nigerians themselves, including APC supporters,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC also challenged APC’s claim that hardships are “transient,” pointing to data showing widespread deprivation: 82 percent went without enough food, 82 percent lacked medical care, 79 percent lacked cooking fuel, 74 percent lacked clean water, and 95 percent experienced periods without cash income over the past year.

Regarding the redirection of fuel subsidy savings, Abdullahi questioned the government’s accounting, noting that only N36 million—0.02 percent of the federal healthcare capital budget—was released for 2025, despite claims that the roughly N6.4 trillion saved was being invested in critical sectors. “If the money is truly being redirected to essential areas, why are local contractors unpaid and universities still poorly equipped?” he asked, urging Nigerians to confront the realities of APC’s economic record.

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