Economic hardship: Atiku rejects presidency’s defense of Tinubu reforms

Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly rejected the presidency's defense of President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms, asserting that official claims of recovery are at odds with the daily struggles of Nigerians facing increasing poverty and food insecurity.

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The State House celebrates macroeconomic indicators while ordinary Nigerians struggle with microeconomic realities. It speaks glowingly about GDP growth while families skip meals. It boasts of debt ratios while businesses shut their doors.

Responding to a State House statement, Abubakar stated that macroeconomic gains celebrated by the Tinubu administration do not align with the microeconomic realities experienced by ordinary citizens. He criticized the government for highlighting GDP growth while families struggle to afford meals and for boasting about debt ratios while businesses are closing.

Abubakar referenced findings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which estimated that 63% of Nigerians live below the national poverty line and approximately 27 million people faced food insecurity in late 2025. He noted that while the IMF report acknowledged improvements in some reform areas, it also warned of widespread poverty and the need for stronger social protection measures.

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Governments are not elected to improve spreadsheets. They are elected to improve lives. Nigerians cannot eat GDP. They cannot cook with exchange-rate adjustments.

He further challenged the presidency's argument that critics use outdated data, emphasizing that Nigerians continue to feel the consequences of policies implemented since 2024. Abubakar questioned the rationale behind continued high-level borrowing, despite reported improvements in revenue, subsidy removal, tax collection, and debt servicing, asking why these factors had not translated into better infrastructure, jobs, and living standards.

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If revenue has improved so dramatically; if subsidy has been removed; if tax collection has increased; and if debt servicing has supposedly become more manageable, why does this administration continue to borrow at record levels?