ADC Calls on Tinubu to Address Rising Poverty in Nigeria

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a strong statement urging President Bola Tinubu to confront the rising poverty levels in Nigeria rather than obscuring the issue with misleading statistics. The ADC’s comments follow the release of the October 2025 World Bank report, which indicates that approximately 139 million Nigerians are currently living below the poverty line. This stark figure represents a significant increase of 61 percent from the 81 million recorded in 2019.

In a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) government for what it describes as deceptive practices aimed at portraying a false image of economic success. The party asserts that the report highlights a troubling disconnection between the government’s optimistic narrative and the harsh realities faced by millions of Nigerians on a daily basis.

The ADC pointed out that while the APC administration touts increased revenue and fiscal achievements, the number of individuals falling into poverty is escalating at an unprecedented rate. “The World Bank numbers tell a simple but painful story,” the statement read. “Under the APC and President Tinubu’s government, more Nigerians have fallen into poverty than at any other time in our history.”

The party highlighted that in 2019, four out of ten Nigerians were considered poor; today, that figure has risen to at least six out of ten. This alarming statistic underscores the worsening economic conditions that many citizens are enduring.

During his recent Independence Day address, President Tinubu declared that “the worst is over,” a statement the ADC has since criticized as a “calculated whitewash” aimed at maintaining the government’s narrative of progress. The ADC argues that behind the administration’s purported successes lies a grim reality marked by increasing human suffering, with families skipping meals, children dropping out of school, and households forced to sell assets just to afford food and essential medications.

The party further emphasized the severe impact of inflation on food prices, noting that the cost of a bag of rice has surged fivefold in just four years. This rise in food prices has exacerbated the struggles of ordinary Nigerians, many of whom are grappling with the daily challenges of survival.

In conclusion, the ADC has called on President Tinubu to acknowledge the true state of the economy and take meaningful action to address the escalating poverty levels in Nigeria. The party’s critique serves as a reminder of the urgent need for transparent governance and effective economic policies that genuinely uplift the living conditions of the Nigerian populace.