Atiku Abubakar Advocates for Nigeria's Economic Reform

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria and a member of the African Democratic Congress, stated that Nigeria cannot achieve prosperity through an import-driven economy. He urged the federal government to abandon this model and focus on expanding domestic production, reviving manufacturing, and creating an export-oriented economy.

Atiku highlighted the worsening economic conditions in Nigeria, attributing them to policies favoring consumption of imported products over local production. He noted that food inflation has reached 17.52%, with significant increases in states like Kogi and Niger.

He emphasized that Nigeria's manufacturing sector spent N3.53 trillion on importing raw materials in just six months, warning that a decline in manufacturing activity poses a serious threat to economic growth. Atiku called for urgent investments in agriculture, manufacturing, and solid minerals, advocating for the processing of local raw materials to generate employment and strengthen the naira.

He also criticized the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu for concealing budgetary issues and worsening living conditions for Nigerians.