By Muhammad Mamman
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has acknowledged the severe economic difficulties facing Nigerians but has called on opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, to refrain from amplifying the nation’s struggles for political gain.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Sunday Dare, the presidential spokesperson, emphasised that the government is not seeking to silence citizens amid the ongoing hardships. “This administration does not demand silence in the face of adversity,” Mr Dare stated, alongside an official portrait of the president. “It seeks only fairness and a collective resolve to rebuild our nation, rather than exaggerating its challenges. This is President Tinubu’s expectation of all Nigerians and supporters of our country.”
The call for restraint follows sharp criticism from opposition figures, notably Mr Obi, who recently condemned the government’s expenditure of N712 billion on airport renovations, arguing that such spending is unjustifiable given the widespread hunger gripping the nation.
Since assuming office, President Tinubu’s policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates, have triggered unprecedented inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. Fuel prices have soared from N145 to approximately N900 per litre, while the naira has plummeted to N1,500 against the dollar. Although inflation has eased to 23.7% from 34% following an economic rebasing, the economic strain remains palpable.
The International Monetary Fund has commended Mr Tinubu’s reforms as bold but noted that poverty and food insecurity remain alarmingly high. The World Bank’s April 2025 Africa Pulse report highlighted Nigeria as having the world’s highest number of extremely poor people, projecting a further rise in poverty by 2027. Additionally, the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, published by the Global Network Against Food Crises in partnership with the Food Security Information Network and UNICEF, revealed that Nigeria experienced the largest global surge in acute food insecurity in 2024.
Compounding these challenges, insecurity persists, with bandits continuing to terrorise communities in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Plateau. Amnesty International has sharply criticised the Tinubu administration for failing to address these security threats, underscoring the government’s struggle to fulfil its primary duty to protect its citizens.
