By Our Reporter
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the rising cost of living, insecurity and economic hardship in Nigeria.
Atiku made the remarks in an Independence Day address delivered at the ADC Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary.
He disputed President Tinubu’s assessment that the government’s economic reforms were beginning to usher Nigeria into an “age of prosperity”, arguing that many Nigerians were still struggling to afford food, transport, healthcare and other basic necessities.
According to Atiku, the past three years under the Tinubu administration had resulted in what he described as the country’s most severe cost-of-living crisis.
“Sixty-six years after independence, millions of Nigerians are fighting for things a free country should never put beyond their reach: food on the table, a wage that lasts the month, and a safe journey home,” he said.
Atiku also criticised the removal of the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy, introduced without what he described as adequate protection for vulnerable households, contributed to higher transportation and food costs.
He questioned the benefits Nigerians had received from the savings the government said would result from the subsidy removal.
Atiku also challenged the President’s reference to falling inflation and economic growth, arguing that a slower rate of price increases did not mean that Nigerians had recovered the purchasing power they had lost.
He cited the prices of petrol, eggs and bread as examples of what he said was the widening gap between wages and household expenses.
The former vice president further criticised the government’s borrowing, student-loan programme and budget implementation, demanding greater transparency over public spending and the use of borrowed funds.
On infrastructure contracts, Atiku questioned the award of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to Hitech Construction Company, calling for the publication of relevant bidding, evaluation and contract documents.
He also questioned the government’s cash-transfer programme, following claims by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, that more than 10 million Nigerians had received ₦75,000 each.
Atiku said the government should provide an auditable account of how the beneficiaries were identified and how the payments were made.
Proposes Domestic Fuel Production Subsidy
Atiku outlined his proposed alternative to the current approach to fuel pricing, saying an ADC government would introduce what he described as a capped and budgeted production subsidy tied to verified fuel refined in Nigeria.
He said imported petrol would not qualify under the proposed arrangement and that the programme would be independently audited.
“The principle is simple: produce here, refine here, create jobs here and pay less here,” he said.
He also promised to make affordability, security, healthcare and education central to his administration if elected.
Atiku Raises Security, Political Freedom Concerns
On insecurity, Atiku said armed groups had displaced communities, disrupted farming and forced families to live under the threat of kidnapping and ransom demands.
He also called for what he described as due process in cases involving detained Nigerians, including Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai and the five young Nigerians arrested in Borno after reportedly wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts.
Atiku said citizens should remain free to criticise government and organise peacefully.
He further urged Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 election and protect their votes.
He promised that, if elected, his administration would respect the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), support prompt publication of polling-unit results and ensure that electoral offences were prosecuted regardless of political affiliation.
“The coming election offers us a peaceful way to choose our course,” Atiku said, urging voters to question all candidates, demand measurable plans and resist intimidation.
He concluded by saying Nigerians had the right to examine the record of those in power before deciding whether to give them another mandate.