Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of plunging Nigeria into what he described as the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis.

Atiku made the claim on Thursday in his state-of-the-nation address delivered at the ADC headquarters in Abuja, where he criticised the government’s economic policies and the impact of the petrol subsidy removal.

He said millions of Nigerians were struggling to afford food, healthcare and transportation, arguing that the government’s economic gains had not translated into improved living conditions for ordinary citizens.

According to him, families were “skipping meals, delaying treatment and borrowing to survive until payday,” while the government continued to ask Nigerians for patience and sacrifice.

Atiku also faulted the removal of the petrol subsidy, saying it had driven up petrol and transportation costs and increased the cost of moving food across the country.

He rejected the government’s claim that Nigeria had entered an “age of prosperity”, arguing that lower inflation and economic growth did not necessarily mean that Nigerians were better off.

On insecurity, the former vice-president said armed groups had killed thousands of Nigerians and displaced families, while farmers were unable to access their farms and parents remained worried about the safety of their children.

Atiku proposed a capped and budgeted production subsidy for petrol refined domestically, including fuel produced by modular refineries.

He said the programme would be independently audited and its costs published to ensure that the benefit reached consumers through lower pump prices.

He said the proposed approach would focus on domestic production and refining, job creation and reducing the cost of fuel for Nigerians.