The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing recent reports on rising poverty and hunger, and urged the President to either change course or step aside.
The opposition party said findings by the World Bank indicating that about 139 million Nigerians live below the national poverty line, as well as reports by the World Food Programme (WFP) that 17 million Nigerians are facing acute hunger, demonstrate the failure of the government’s economic reforms.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the situation as evidence that the administration’s economic policies have worsened living conditions for millions of Nigerians.
“The economic growth, increased revenue and rising foreign reserves that the government continues to celebrate are meaningless if they do not translate into better lives for the people or protect their livelihoods,” the party said.
According to the ADC, the current hardship being experienced across the country is the result of policies that have prioritised economic indicators over the welfare of citizens.
“This catastrophic situation is the inevitable consequence of economic policies that have favoured money over people and statistics over survival,” the statement added.
The party accused the government of refusing to reconsider its economic approach despite widespread hardship, alleging that policies presented as necessary reforms have imposed severe burdens on ordinary Nigerians.
“Three years down the line, it is now clear that the chicken has come home to roost. The evidence of 139 million people living in poverty and 17 million at the risk of starvation is President Tinubu’s scorecard,” the ADC stated.
The opposition party argued that Nigeria needs leadership that is more responsive to the needs of citizens and focused on improving living standards.
“What Nigeria desperately needs is a President and a government that truly understand how the people feel and genuinely care about them,” it said.
The ADC also rejected what it described as the government’s reliance on palliatives and emergency interventions, insisting that poverty and hunger can only be addressed through long-term economic reforms that boost production, create jobs and improve incomes.
“Poverty cannot be defeated through palliatives. It can only be defeated by building an economy that enables Nigerians to produce more food, earn decent incomes and live with dignity,” the party said.
Outlining its alternative approach, the ADC said an administration led by the party would focus on reducing energy costs, improving security in farming communities and ensuring farmers can safely cultivate and transport their produce to markets.
“We will secure farming communities and agricultural corridors so that farmers can return to their land without fear, cultivate throughout the farming season and transport their produce safely and affordably to markets,” the statement said.
The party maintained that achieving food security would remain difficult as long as insecurity continues to prevent farmers from accessing their farmlands.
