Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu for what he called an attempt to justify rising national debt despite worsening economic hardship across the country.
In a statement released on Thursday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the Federal Government appeared disconnected from the realities facing Nigerians by comparing the country’s debt profile with those of other African nations.
He argued that the true measure of economic performance should not be based on how much a country borrows, but on the quality of life of its citizens, including access to food, security, stable businesses, and hope for the future.
According to the former Vice President, the current administration has focused more on public relations and statistics while millions of Nigerians struggle with hunger, inflation, insecurity, and collapsing businesses.
He described it as insensitive for the Presidency to highlight debt figures at a time when many citizens can barely afford daily meals, parents are withdrawing children from school due to hardship, and communities continue to suffer attacks from terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers.
Atiku maintained that borrowing itself is not necessarily harmful if the funds are directed toward projects that improve infrastructure, strengthen security, support agriculture, and stimulate economic growth. However, he lamented that despite increasing debt under the Tinubu administration, Nigerians have continued to experience rising poverty, food insecurity, and declining purchasing power.
He further stated that insecurity has severely affected agricultural production, as many farmers are unable to safely access their farmlands because of persistent violence and attacks in rural communities. According to him, this situation has contributed significantly to soaring food prices and widespread hardship nationwide.
The former Vice President also condemned what he described as the government’s reliance on propaganda to distract citizens from the consequences of poor economic management. He argued that countries only benefit from borrowing when loans are invested in productive sectors that create jobs and improve living standards.
Reflecting on the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he served as Vice President, Atiku recalled that difficult but disciplined economic reforms helped Nigeria secure debt relief from the Paris Club and restore international confidence in the nation’s economy.
He expressed concern that the current administration inherited a manageable economy but has allegedly pushed the country into deeper debt, worsening poverty, and growing insecurity within a short period.
Atiku concluded by urging the Federal Government to focus on practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges rather than media campaigns, stressing that Nigerians are more concerned about affordable food, security, and economic stability than official statistics.