Hayatu-Deen slams economic team, calls for urgent policy reset

As a leading voice within the African Democratic Congress and a renowned economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has issued a stark warning regarding Nigeria's economic trajectory. Speaking in Abuja, he did not mince words, criticizing the current administration's economic team and calling for an immediate and fundamental reset of policies. Hayatu-Deen argues that the strategies in place are not only failing to deliver relief but are actively exacerbating the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians, evidenced by the relentless rise in poverty and inflation.

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Nigeria stands at a crossroads. And at such moments, nations do not drift; they move forward with momentum. They choose either the noble path of renewal or the easy slide into decline. For too long, we have made the wrong choices, tolerated weak systems, and watched as the gap between our potential and our reality has widened.

Hayatu-Deen paints a grim picture of a nation at a critical juncture, where the gap between its vast potential and its current reality has become a palpable burden for its citizens. He laments that the simple pursuit of opportunity has devolved into a daily test of endurance for millions, with soaring food and petrol prices making life increasingly unaffordable. The aspirant also highlighted the alarming intertwining of economic woes with pervasive insecurity, noting that communities are often left to fend for themselves, even resorting to paying ransoms, a clear indicator of leadership failure in providing basic protection.

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Today, that gap is no longer abstract; it is felt in the rising cost of living, in the insecurity that threatens lives and livelihoods, and in the growing sense of uncertainty about the future. Every day, the signs around us suggest that we are drifting too close to that decline. The country that we love continues to pile pressure on everyday Nigerians, while the promise of a better life increasingly feels out of reach.

This critique from Hayatu-Deen is particularly significant as it comes from an aspirant who understands the intricacies of macroeconomic policy. He contends that while reforms were necessary, their implementation lacked the careful sequencing and systematic approach required to mitigate the severe side effects now being experienced. This has led to a broad erosion of confidence in the nation's economic stewardship. For many Nigerians, this is not the future they were promised or deserve, and Hayatu-Deen's call to action within the ADC aims to steer the country away from a path of decline towards one of renewal.

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Food prices continue to rise. Petrol prices continue to climb. For millions of families, the simple act of getting through the day has become a test of endurance rather than a pursuit of opportunity. Every day, Nigerians are not only burdened economically, but they are also increasingly unsafe and insecure. In too many parts of our country, communities live under the shadow of fear, uncertain of what tomorrow may bring.