Hardship: President Tinubu must act now — ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to take urgent steps to address what it described as growing hardship faced by Nigerians.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the call in a statement on Wednesday, citing the price of petrol, transportation, food, education and other rising household costs.

Abdullahi said petrol was selling for as much as N1,470 per litre in some locations, arguing that increases in fuel costs were affecting the prices of goods and services.

He also cited reports of private schools raising fees by between 30 and 40 per cent, while saying household incomes had not risen at the same rate.

According to him, the rising cost of fuel, electricity, taxes, rent and salaries was also putting pressure on school proprietors and businesses.

The ADC spokesman said the party believed the government needed to respond more urgently to the economic pressures confronting families.

He further linked the issue to the 2027 presidential election, presenting the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as offering an alternative economic programme.

Abdullahi said Atiku would seek to reduce petrol prices by restoring subsidy to support domestic fuel production, which he argued would help lower the cost of food, transportation and production.

He said the 2027 election would give Nigerians an opportunity to choose between the Tinubu administration and the alternative being proposed by the ADC.

The party also accused the Federal Government of focusing on economic figures while, in its view, many households continued to struggle with rising living costs.

“President Tinubu must act now,” Abdullahi said, urging the administration to respond to the concerns over the cost of living.

The ADC statement represents the opposition party’s assessment of the economy and its argument for its proposed policy alternative ahead of the 2027 election.