Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to take urgent steps to reduce the economic hardship facing Nigerians rather than relying heavily on palliatives such as rice distribution.
Atiku made the call on Friday, September 18, 2026, during a world press conference in Abuja, where he criticised the government’s handling of the removal of the petrol subsidy.
According to him, Nigerians have continued to bear the consequences of higher energy and transportation costs, with rising petrol prices affecting the prices of goods and services across the country.
Atiku said that when energy becomes more expensive, the cost of living inevitably rises, adding that the impact is being felt by workers, businesses, market traders and households.
The former vice president also criticised the government for rejecting his proposal for greater intervention in the petroleum sector to reduce the pressure of rising fuel prices.
He argued that the government should listen to concerns raised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other groups over the effects of rising energy costs on workers and the wider economy.
Atiku questions celebration of GDP growth
Atiku also questioned the government’s celebration of economic growth, increased revenue and higher allocations, arguing that Nigerians are more concerned about what their incomes can actually buy.
He said manufacturers were struggling with production cuts while unsold goods continued to accumulate in warehouses because many consumers could no longer afford them.
According to Atiku, the economy should be judged by its impact on citizens, particularly whether reforms are increasing production, creating opportunities and improving living standards.
He urged the Tinubu administration to use its remaining time in office to implement measures capable of reducing the burden on Nigerians.
Atiku further appealed to Tinubu to consider policies aimed at lowering the cost of petroleum products, regardless of who originally proposed them.
He said an economic proposal should not be rejected simply because it came from a political opponent, arguing that the priority should be reducing the financial burden on Nigerians.
‘Rice cannot fix an economy where transport costs exceed salaries’
Atiku said emergency assistance and palliatives have a role to play during difficult periods but should not replace sustainable economic policies.
He specifically warned that distributing bags of rice would not solve the deeper problems caused by high transportation and energy costs.
According to him, cash transfers and other temporary interventions cannot permanently compensate workers whose incomes are being eroded by rising living expenses.
Atiku also expressed concern over the government’s reported plans to further reform electricity subsidies by 2027.
He called for economic policies that would address the underlying causes of hardship rather than relying mainly on temporary relief measures.
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