Atiku Challenges Tinubu on Nigeria's Rising Public Debt

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has challenged President Bola Tinubu to clarify why Nigeria's public debt surged to ₦166.79 trillion by June 2026, up from ₦49.85 trillion in March 2023, despite increased government revenues. In a statement from Phrank Shaibu, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council's Director of Strategic Communications, Atiku emphasized that Nigerians deserve transparency regarding the ongoing borrowing.

He requested a detailed reconciliation of the debt, including old obligations, exchange-rate impacts on foreign debt, new loans since 2023, repayments, and outstanding balances. Atiku pointed out the disparity between improved economic indicators and the rising cost of living, stating that the true measure of economic policy is affordability for Nigerians.

He referenced a June 2026 IMF assessment indicating that 63% of Nigerians lived in poverty and 27 million faced food insecurity. Atiku also demanded explanations for specific charges in the Debt Management Office's debt-service schedule and called for a reconciliation of outstanding Treasury Bills.