Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of making life and doing business more expensive for Nigerians.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Nigeria was exporting raw materials without adding enough value locally, while households and manufacturers struggle with rising costs and weak purchasing power.
He said raw-material exports rose by 106 per cent, from N1.86 trillion in the first half of 2025 to N3.84 trillion in the first half of 2026.
“There is nothing wrong with exporting. The problem is exporting the cheapest part of the value chain and buying back the expensive part,” he said, arguing that commodities such as cocoa, hides, cotton and minerals should be processed locally before export.
Atiku also cited about N2.14 trillion worth of unsold manufactured goods, saying the figure reflected declining consumer purchasing power and higher production costs.
“Fuel is more expensive. Electricity is more expensive. Credit is expensive. Transportation costs have risen. The naira is weaker. Manufacturers pay more to produce, and families have less money to buy,” he said.
“That is why factory shelves are full while kitchen cupboards are empty.”
He proposed affordable long-term financing, industrial clusters, agro-processing, mineral beneficiation and support for businesses that add value locally.
Atiku also proposed a production-linked fuel subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria, as well as a $10 billion financing programme for young entrepreneurs and start-ups.
He said his economic plan would focus on boosting domestic production, creating jobs, strengthening the naira and making businesses cheaper to operate.
“Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. Atiku will make Nigeria affordable again,” he said.
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