Politics

ADC Blames Tinubu’s Policies as Poverty Hits 63% in Nigeria

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 14th, 2026.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has attributed the recent surge in Nigeria’s poverty rate to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, describing the 63% poverty figure as the administration’s real “scorecard.”

In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the statistics reflect the harsh reality faced by millions of Nigerians, as rising fuel and transport costs continue to drive up the cost of living.

“The latest report shows poverty has climbed from around 50% prior to the subsidy removal to 63% today,” Abdullahi said, according to The Punch. “This increase is a direct consequence of the government’s hasty decision to remove the fuel subsidy without adequate measures to cushion ordinary citizens.”

The statement added that the policy, initially justified by the government as a means to redirect funds to critical sectors such as health and education, has yet to yield tangible benefits. Citizens, Abdullahi said, continue to feel the pinch in their daily lives.

Citing recent surveys, the ADC highlighted widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians: 93% believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, 88% describe the economy as poor, and 74% say their personal living conditions are unsatisfactory, according to findings shared by The Guardian Nigeria.

“Beyond statistics, millions of Nigerians experience deprivation daily, lacking access to food, clean water, medical care, cooking fuel, and adequate income,” the party noted. “Economic hardship has become a chronic reality for households nationwide, reflecting government prioritisation of external approval over citizen welfare.”

The ADC concluded that the true measure of economic policy should be whether it improves the lives of the majority, particularly the most vulnerable. On that front, the party argued, the APC government has failed.