A senior figure in Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked debate by asserting that citizens are faring better under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership than during the tenure of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). George Agbakahi, an APC chieftain, made the remarks during a televised interview on Arise News, defending the administration’s economic policies amid widespread reports of hardship and rising living costs.
Citing initiatives such as the recently launched student loan scheme, free vocational training programs, and investments in green energy, Agbakahi argued that Tinubu’s reforms have “put smiles on the faces of Nigerian parents” and created new opportunities. “In the history of Nigeria, apart from student loans, vocational institutions are now free—people learn carpentry, welding, all without charge,” he said. The official also highlighted projects like compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and electric vehicles as innovations absent during PDP governance.
When challenged about data showing increased multidimensional poverty—a term reflecting income, health, and living standard declines—Agbakahi attributed economic struggles to inherited “structural distortions.” He claimed past administrations, including those under PDP leaders Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan, delayed necessary reforms like fuel subsidy removal and currency rate unification, creating an “artificial economy.” Tinubu’s abrupt end to the decades-old subsidy in May 2023 triggered inflation and protests but was framed by Agbakahi as a tough but necessary step. “President Tinubu said it would be tough, and now it’s easing up,” he insisted.
The APC leader pointed to financial aid programs, including a ₦200 billion ($134 million) SME fund and a ₦100 billion youth enterprise scheme, as evidence of progress. “These initiatives are unmatched by previous governments,” he stated, dismissing comparisons to the PDP era as “not doable.”
The remarks come amid mixed economic signals. While Nigeria’s stock market has surged and the Central Bank claims improved liquidity, food prices remain volatile, and the World Bank estimates over 100 million Nigerians live in poverty. Critics argue subsidy removal disproportionately impacts low-income households, with labor unions demanding urgent wage increases.
Agbakahi’s defense reflects the Tinubu administration’s broader narrative: short-term pain for long-term stability. However, the debate underscores polarized perceptions of Nigeria’s economic trajectory, with policymakers emphasizing reforms and citizens grappling with daily affordability crises. As inflation slows modestly—from 33.69% in April to 33.95% in May—the government faces mounting pressure to demonstrate tangible relief ahead of looming policy reviews and budget negotiations.
