ADC Criticizes Tinubu for Misrepresenting Nigeria’s Poverty Rate

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for allegedly misrepresenting Nigeria’s economic situation. In response to the October 2025 World Bank report, which stated that 139 million Nigerians are living below the poverty line, the ADC accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government of disseminating misleading statistics to create a false narrative of economic improvement.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC highlighted that the latest poverty figures represent a significant increase of 61 percent from the 81 million people reported as living in poverty in 2019. This surge underscores, according to the ADC, the negative impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies. The party asserted that these policies have exacerbated hardship for many Nigerians, despite official claims of progress.

Disparity Between Government Claims and Reality

The ADC pointed out a stark contrast between the government’s optimistic rhetoric regarding economic growth and the grim realities faced by millions. The statement noted, “While the APC administration celebrates increased revenue and boasts of meeting fiscal targets, more citizens are slipping into abject poverty at a rate never seen before in Nigeria.”

The party further criticized the government for using “creative statistics” to obscure its failures. They stated, “The World Bank numbers tell a simple but painful story: under the APC and President Bola Tinubu’s government, more Nigerians have fallen into poverty than at any other time in our history. In 2019, four out of ten Nigerians were poor. Today, at least six out of ten are.” This alarming increase raises concerns about the effectiveness of the current administration’s economic strategies.

In his Independence Day speech, President Tinubu claimed that “the worst is over,” a statement the ADC has now labeled as a “calculated whitewash” of the country’s economic struggles. The party emphasized that behind the government’s statistics lies a reality of widespread hardship, with families skipping meals, children dropping out of school, and households resorting to selling assets to afford basic necessities.

Soaring Food Prices and Inflation

The ADC expressed particular concern regarding food inflation, which has reportedly surged under the current administration. They noted that the price of a bag of rice has increased fivefold in just four years, exacerbating the struggles faced by low-income families.

The ADC’s strong rebuke of President Tinubu and the APC underscores growing discontent over economic conditions in Nigeria. As the government continues to promote its narrative of fiscal success, the stark contrast presented by the World Bank’s findings raises critical questions about the true state of the nation’s economy and the living conditions of its citizens.