Atiku warns Tinubu: $1tn goal impossible while Nigerians grow poorer
Atiku Abubakar, ADC presidential candidate and former Vice President, said President Bola Tinubu cannot build a $1 trillion economy by making Nigerians poorer. In a statement by his spokesperson Phrank Shaibu on Tuesday, Atiku argued that despite the Tinubu administration's claims of improved macroeconomic indicators, most Nigerians face extreme poverty pressure. He noted Nigeria's inflation eased to 15.39% in August 2026 while raw material exports surged 106%, from N1.86 trillion in H1 2025 to N3.84 trillion in H1 2026, according to NBS data. Atiku warned that prosperous nations are not built by behaving like a loading bay for raw materials.
This matters because it highlights the gap between official statistics and lived experience, informing citizens about the economic debate that could influence voting choices and policy demands. It raises questions about whether growth driven by raw material exports translates to broad-based prosperity or merely enriches a few while many remain impoverished.
Readers should consider both the positive macro numbers and the persistent poverty reality when evaluating economic policies. Will you support strategies that prioritize inclusive growth and diversification over export-led models that may leave the majority behind? Or do you believe the current export surge will eventually lift living standards for all Nigerians?