Nigeria: Stop Judging Tinubu By 2024 Economic Realities, Presidency Tells Atiku

What the report says

Nigeria’s Presidency has pushed back against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic record, saying the administration should not be judged only by conditions in 2024. In a statement by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency argued that the reform programme has moved beyond its hardest phase and is now showing results. The response came after Atiku accused the government of fiscal recklessness, including borrowing, fuel subsidy removal, tax reforms and alleged unaccounted oil revenue.

The Presidency said reforms should be assessed as an ongoing process rather than a single moment in time. It claimed Nigeria’s dollar-based GDP and naira GDP have recovered from their post-adjustment lows, and said debt indicators are more manageable when compared with the size of the economy and revenue base. On borrowing, it said funds are being directed toward productive infrastructure and long-term investment, while also saying the debt service burden has fallen since late 2022.

The statement also defended the removal of the fuel subsidy, describing it as a costly policy that had long strained public finances. It said the change has increased allocations to states and local governments through FAAC, helping fund roads, schools, hospitals and other services. In addition, the Presidency rejected Atiku’s criticism of tax reforms, saying they are designed to ease pressure on lower earners and small businesses while ensuring wealthier taxpayers contribute more.

The government also cited health-sector spending, including upgrades to primary care, tertiary hospitals and cancer treatment centres. More broadly, the exchange reflects the continuing political dispute over how quickly Nigerians should expect relief from Tinubu’s economic reforms and what benchmarks should be used to judge them.