The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of ignoring a deepening poverty crisis in Nigeria, challenging the government’s narrative on the economy. In a statement on Sunday, the opposition party cited independent reports and surveys to argue that recent economic policies have severely worsened living standards.
The ADC’s rebuttal follows criticism from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which had dismissed the ADC’s earlier comments on poverty. The ADC maintained its position is grounded in data and citizen experiences, stating that the APC avoided substantive debate by attacking the opposition.
Citing an independent report, the ADC claimed Nigeria’s poverty rate has surged to 63% from approximately 50% prior to the removal of the petrol subsidy. The party contended this represents “tens of millions” pushed into poverty by what it called “failed economic policies.” Furthermore, the ADC highlighted survey data indicating that 93% of Nigerians believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, with 88% describing the economy as bad and 74% reporting poor personal living conditions.
Contrary to the APC’s description of current hardship as “transient,” the ADC presented survey findings showing widespread deprivation: 82% of Nigerians reported skipping meals, lacking medical care, or missing cooking fuel in the past year, while 95% went without a cash income.
The party also criticised the impact of rising fuel prices, noting a surge of nearly 500% from about N255 per litre in May 2023 to around N1,500. It linked this to negative effects on the agricultural sector, claiming nearly 90 of over 150 rice mills have shut down, with others operating below capacity. Official data from the National Bureau of Statistics was cited to show Nigeria’s food import bill doubled from N3.83 trillion in 2023 to N7.65 trillion.
The ADC concluded by urging the government to shift focus from “economic lectures” to citizen welfare, asserting that the gap between official claims and lived reality will persist unless success is measured by people’s well-being.
