The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against worsening economic hardship, saying the rising cost of petrol is placing Nigerians under unbearable pressure.
The opposition party raised the alarm after petrol prices climbed to as high as N1,470 per litre in parts of the country, arguing that the increase was driving up the cost of transportation, food, electricity, education and other essential services.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said Nigerians were being pushed beyond what it described as the limits of endurance.
The party also cited reports of private schools raising fees by between 30 and 40 per cent as another indication of the financial strain facing households.
According to the ADC, the increase in school fees has placed additional pressure on parents whose earnings have not risen at a similar rate.
It, however, said school proprietors should not be blamed for the increases, noting that they were also dealing with higher operating costs, including fuel, electricity, taxes, rent and staff salaries.
The opposition party maintained that the current economic situation was affecting households and businesses alike, warning that many Nigerians were being forced to make difficult choices over food, education and healthcare.
“Families are now skipping meals, withdrawing children from school, abandoning medical treatment and shutting down businesses,” the party said.
The ADC further criticised the Federal Government’s economic reforms, arguing that improved government economic indicators would mean little if ordinary Nigerians continued to experience declining living standards.
It said an economic policy could not be considered successful if it resulted in increased hardship for citizens.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, the ADC said Nigerians would have an opportunity to decide whether to continue with the Tinubu administration’s economic policies or support the alternative programme being proposed by its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The party said Atiku would seek to reduce petrol prices by restoring subsidy mechanisms aimed at supporting domestic fuel production.
According to the ADC, lower fuel costs would help reduce pressure on transportation, food prices and production expenses across the economy.
The party also warned the Tinubu administration against interpreting Nigerians’ resilience in the face of hardship as acceptance of its policies.
“Don’t push Nigerians to their limits,” the ADC said, urging the President to take immediate steps to address the economic pressures confronting households and businesses.