Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has mounted a fresh critique against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the administration’s economic direction.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the federal government’s economic ambitions are disconnected from the daily financial reality of the population.

“You cannot build a $1 trillion economy by making your own people poorer,” Atiku said. “That is not how prosperous nations are built. Nigeria must stop behaving like a loading bay for raw materials.”

He contended that despite official reports showing improved macroeconomic indicators, the majority of Nigerians have endured escalating poverty and economic hardship over the past three years.

The critique follows data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showing Nigeria’s headline inflation rate moderated to 15.39 percent in August 2026. The same report highlighted a 106 percent surge in raw material exports, which grew from ₦1.86 trillion in the first half of 2025 to ₦3.84 trillion during the corresponding period in 2026.