Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over worsening insecurity and economic hardship in the country, saying many Nigerians now treat ransom payments like normal household expenses.
Atiku made the remarks in a statement released on Thursday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party accused the Federal Government of being disconnected from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians, especially at a time when many citizens are struggling with hunger, inflation, kidnappings and rising living costs.
According to him, the recent comments by the Presidency comparing Nigeria’s debt profile with those of other African countries showed that the government was more interested in propaganda than addressing the real problems facing the people.
“It is both astonishing and insulting that at a time when millions of Nigerians can barely afford one meal a day, the Presidency is celebrating debt figures as though indebtedness were an achievement,” Atiku said.
He expressed concern over the worsening security situation across many parts of the country, especially the growing cases of kidnapping for ransom.
According to him, travelling on Nigerian roads has become dangerous, while families now live in fear of receiving calls from kidnappers demanding money for the release of loved ones.
“In many parts of Nigeria today, travelling by road has become a gamble with death. Families go to bed praying not to receive midnight calls announcing the abduction of loved ones,” he stated.
The former Vice President said ransom payments have become so common that many households now see them as regular expenses.
“Ransom payments have become as routine as school fees and house rent in many homes,” he added.
Nigeria has continued to witness frequent cases of kidnapping in recent years, especially in states across the North-West, North-Central and parts of the South-East.
Several communities have suffered attacks by armed groups, bandits and criminal gangs who often abduct travellers, students, farmers and residents for ransom.
Many families are forced to raise huge sums of money to secure the release of kidnapped relatives, while some victims remain in captivity for weeks or months.
The worsening insecurity has also affected farming activities in many rural communities.
Atiku said many farmers can no longer safely access their farmlands because of attacks by armed groups and bandits.
According to him, the situation has contributed to declining food production and rising food prices across the country.
“As a result, food production has declined sharply, leading to hunger, rising prices and widespread hardship,” he said.
Nigeria has experienced rising inflation since the removal of petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira by the Tinubu administration in 2023.
Prices of food items, transportation and basic goods have continued to rise sharply, placing pressure on millions of households.
The National Bureau of Statistics has repeatedly reported increases in food inflation, with staples such as rice, beans, yam and garri becoming more expensive in markets across the country.
Many Nigerians have complained that wages and incomes are no longer enough to meet basic needs.
Although the Federal Government has defended its economic reforms, saying they are necessary to stabilise the economy and attract investment, opposition leaders and labour unions have continued to criticise the policies.
Atiku, who contested against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, said borrowing itself was not the problem if properly managed.
He argued, however, that Nigeria’s rising debt profile has not translated into better living conditions or improved infrastructure for citizens.
“Borrowing can be useful when tied to productive investments and transparent governance, but Nigerians are not seeing the impact in their daily lives,” he said.
He accused the government of focusing more on media campaigns and public relations than solving urgent national problems.
The former Vice President called on the Tinubu administration to take immediate action to tackle insecurity, reduce hardship and rebuild public confidence.
He warned that failure to address the current challenges could worsen the suffering of Nigerians and create deeper economic and social problems.
Atiku’s comments came shortly after President Tinubu defended his administration’s economic reforms during a nationwide address to mark his third anniversary in office.
The President said difficult decisions taken by his government, including the removal of fuel subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market, had saved Nigeria from economic collapse.
Tinubu also said the reforms had blocked massive financial leakages linked to subsidy payments and forex rackets.
However, critics argue that despite government promises of economic recovery, many Nigerians are yet to feel any real improvement in their living conditions.
In recent months, several state governments have introduced local security measures and community policing initiatives to support federal security efforts.
Despite these efforts, many Nigerians still fear travelling on highways known for frequent attacks by kidnappers and bandits.
Atiku urged the government to focus less on political messaging and more on practical solutions that would improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
“The government must stop celebrating figures while citizens are suffering daily. Nigerians deserve safety, food security and economic relief,” he said.
The Presidency has yet to officially respond to Atiku’s latest remarks as of the time of filing this report.