LAGOS, NIGERIA — The Allied Peoples Movement has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, citing recent remarks by a minister as proof of the administration’s failure to address the hardship facing Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, the APM said the admission by a serving minister that the government’s policies had caused hardship was a confirmation of what opposition parties and ordinary Nigerians had been saying since the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira.
“The minister’s statement is a clear admission that the Tinubu administration’s economic policies have failed. Nigerians are suffering, businesses are collapsing, and the government is now admitting what we have been saying all along,” the statement read.
The APM accused the government of implementing policies without adequate planning or consideration for their impact on ordinary citizens. It noted that the removal of fuel subsidies had led to a sharp increase in transportation costs, food prices, and the cost of doing business, while the floating of the naira had worsened inflation and eroded the purchasing power of Nigerians.
“These policies were implemented without a clear plan to cushion their effects. The government promised that the savings from subsidy removal would be used to fund social programmes and infrastructure, but Nigerians have seen neither the savings nor the benefits,” the party said.
The APM also criticised the government’s handling of the minimum wage negotiations, the state of the power sector, and the rising cost of living. It called on President Tinubu to urgently review his economic policies and to implement measures that would bring relief to Nigerians.
“The government must listen to the people. It must review its policies and take urgent steps to address the hardship that Nigerians are facing. The economy is not an abstract concept; it is about the ability of Nigerians to feed their families, pay their rent, and send their children to school,” the statement said.
The party also accused the government of failing to address the security challenges facing the country, noting that farmers were unable to go to their farms, businesses were being disrupted, and lives were being lost to banditry and terrorism.
“The economic hardship is compounded by insecurity. Nigerians are being killed, kidnapped, and displaced. The government must address both the economic and security challenges facing the country,” the APM said.
The APM’s statement comes amid growing criticism of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, with opposition parties and civil society groups calling for a review of the reforms. The government has consistently defended its policies, arguing that they are necessary to correct long-standing structural imbalances and to set the country on the path of sustainable growth.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has repeatedly dismissed criticism of the reforms, describing them as necessary sacrifices for the future prosperity of the country. He has also accused opposition figures of playing politics with the economy and of failing to offer viable alternatives.
As the 2027 elections approach, the economy is likely to remain a central issue in the political debate. The APM and other opposition parties are expected to capitalise on public discontent to build support for their candidates. For now, the government’s challenge is to convince Nigerians that its reforms will eventually deliver the promised benefits.
