Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the rising cost of living, saying Nigerians need urgent relief rather than lectures on patience.

Atiku, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said government policies had made petrol, food, transportation, fertiliser, cement and other basic necessities increasingly unaffordable.

“Tinubu did not inherit this cost of living crisis from Nigerians. His policies created and deepened it,” Atiku said.

The former vice-president also criticised the administration’s opposition to his proposed petrol production subsidy, which he said would support domestic production and refining while reducing the financial burden on consumers.

He said the policy would increase local supply, encourage domestic refining and ensure Nigerians benefit from lower petrol prices.

Atiku said Nigerians were now dealing with higher fuel and food prices, rising transportation costs, struggling businesses and reduced purchasing power.

“Nigerians have now seen what Tinubu’s economics means in their daily lives. They do not need another lecture on patience. They need relief,” he said.

He said the choice before Nigerians was between an economy that takes more from citizens and one that puts money back into their pockets.

Atiku further pledged that, if elected president, he would prioritise job creation and policies aimed at reducing the cost of living.

He accused the Tinubu administration of making life increasingly expensive, promising to reverse the trend and restore economic relief to Nigerians.