The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the latest World Bank report provides undeniable evidence that the government’s economic policies have worsened the lives of millions of Nigerians.
In a statement issued by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, the party said the October 2025 World Bank report, which revealed that 139 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line, is a damning indictment of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the ADC, this figure representing 61% of the population, shows a dramatic increase in poverty from 81 million people in 2019, underlining the severe impact of current economic decisions.
“These numbers tell a painful truth,” Abdullahi said.
“Under the Tinubu-led APC government, more Nigerians have fallen into poverty than at any other time in our nation’s history. In 2019, four out of ten Nigerians were poor. Today, it’s at least six out of ten.”
The party accused the federal government of misleading the public with “creative statistics” that paint a false picture of progress, while the reality for many Nigerians remains one of hunger, joblessness, and despair.
Referring to President Tinubu’s recent Independence Day speech where he declared that “the worst is over,” the ADC described those remarks as disconnected from reality and “a whitewash” aimed at obscuring the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
“Behind those glossy numbers are real stories of suffering, families skipping meals, children dropping out of school, and people selling what little they own just to afford food and basic medicine,” the statement said.
The ADC also highlighted the collapse of social protection systems, stating that safety net coverage has shrunk from 20% in 2019 to just 6% in 2025.
Government support to the poorest now accounts for only 0.14% of GDP, well below the global average of 1.5%, the party added.
On food inflation, the ADC painted a bleak picture, saying the cost of basic staples like rice has increased fivefold in just four years.
It noted that poor households are now spending around 70% of their income on food, leaving little to nothing for other essentials like rent, school fees, or healthcare.
“The Tinubu government celebrates record revenue collection and talks about stability, but what good is revenue when people cannot afford to eat?” the party asked.
ADC called on the government to stop masking failure with manipulated data and instead prioritise the welfare of Nigerians through urgent actions focused on food security, job creation and robust social safety programs for the nation’s most vulnerable.
