Atiku Abubakar Urges Tinubu to Focus on Economic Policies

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, urged President Bola Tinubu to tackle the root causes of Nigeria's escalating cost of living. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Atiku stated that palliatives cannot replace effective economic policies.

He highlighted the adverse effects of petrol subsidy removal over the past three years, which have led to increased transportation and food prices, impacting households and businesses. Atiku asserted that economic success should be measured by the affordability of goods for ordinary Nigerians, rather than just government revenue.

He called for Tinubu to implement measures to lower petrol costs and alleviate pressure on families, warning against dismissing policy proposals from political opponents. Atiku criticized the government's reliance on temporary relief measures, stating that they cannot permanently resolve the economic challenges faced by families.

He also expressed concern over the planned phase-out of electricity subsidies by 2027, which could further strain households and businesses.