The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of deliberately misleading Nigerians over recent claims about rising poverty levels, insisting that the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are necessary measures to rebuild and stabilize the country’s economy.
In a press statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described the opposition party’s interpretation of a poverty report presented at an Agora Policy dialogue as “mischievous and politically motivated.”
Morka said it had long been widely acknowledged that the fuel subsidy regime and the multiple foreign exchange systems in operation before May 29, 2023 had become a serious threat to Nigeria’s economic survival. According to him, previous administrations recognized the need to reform these systems but lacked the political will to implement the changes due to concerns about temporary economic hardship.
He noted that President Tinubu took decisive action on his inauguration by announcing the removal of fuel subsidy and subsequently harmonizing the foreign exchange regime. The APC spokesman described the policy shifts as bold and historic decisions that freed the Nigerian economy from stagnation and created the opportunity for sustainable recovery and growth.
Responding to claims by the ADC that a reported increase in poverty rate from 49 percent to 63 percent represents a “damning verdict” on the administration’s policies, Morka said the opposition party either misunderstood economic policy or deliberately ignored the reasons behind the reforms.
He argued that even the report cited by the ADC acknowledged the necessity of the reforms to correct long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
The APC spokesman further criticized the ADC for failing to present alternative policy proposals, accusing the party of focusing solely on attacking the ruling party rather than offering practical solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Morka emphasized that the removal of fuel subsidy was one of the most consequential fiscal decisions in Nigeria’s recent history, noting that the subsidy had consumed trillions of naira annually, sometimes accounting for more than 90 percent of total government revenue, while delivering minimal benefits to ordinary citizens.
He said the subsidy system encouraged corruption, inefficiency, fuel smuggling across borders, and the enrichment of middlemen and import cartels, while draining resources that could have been invested in key sectors such as infrastructure, education, healthcare and social development.
According to him, economic reform inevitably involves difficult choices and short-term sacrifices, stressing that the temporary hardship experienced by Nigerians was the unavoidable cost of correcting long-standing distortions in the economy.
Morka maintained that the benefits of the reforms are already becoming evident, adding that Nigerians have shown resilience and patriotism in supporting the government’s efforts to stabilize and strengthen the economy.
He cited recent economic indicators showing improvement, including a 4.4 percent growth in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year, with projections of about 5.5 percent growth in the current fiscal year. He also said the country’s foreign reserves have risen to over $50 billion, the highest level recorded in nearly two decades.
The APC spokesman further stated that inflation is declining and trending toward single digits, while food inflation has dropped to its lowest level in about 13 years. In addition, non-oil exports reportedly surpassed $6 billion in 2025.
Morka added that state and local governments are now receiving unprecedented levels of revenue allocations, which he said would enhance governance and accelerate development at subnational levels.
He also highlighted social protection programmes introduced by the administration to cushion the effects of the reforms, including cash transfer initiatives, student loan schemes, and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) programmes aimed at reducing transportation costs.
Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain committed to rebuilding the Nigerian economy and improving the welfare of citizens.
“The APC-led administration of President Bola Tinubu will not relent in its determined effort to rebuild our country’s economy for the good of the present and future generations of Nigerians,” he stated.
