Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s claim that Nigeria has entered an era of prosperity, saying millions of Nigerians are still struggling with rising living costs.
Atiku made the remarks in his Independence Day address on Thursday, October 1, 2026, hours after Tinubu said his economic reforms had moved the country beyond its most difficult phase and laid the foundation for shared prosperity.
The former vice president argued that economic growth figures and falling inflation would have little meaning if Nigerians continued to struggle to afford food, healthcare, transportation and other basic necessities.
He also criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy, saying it had contributed to higher fuel and transportation costs and increased the cost of moving goods across the country.
Atiku questioned the benefits Nigerians had received from the government’s reforms, asking when the savings from subsidy removal would translate into lower living costs.
He further faulted the administration over insecurity, unemployment, government spending and social intervention programmes, calling for greater transparency and accountability.
Atiku proposed a capped production subsidy for petrol refined in Nigeria, including fuel from modular refineries, saying the measure would help reduce pump prices while encouraging local refining.
He maintained that genuine economic recovery should be measured by improved living conditions, affordable food, jobs, healthcare, education, security and transportation.
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