By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticized the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, asserting that a new report indicating a surge in the national poverty rate to 63 percent represents the administration’s true performance metric.

In a statement released on Friday, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party attributed the sharp rise in poverty directly to the President’s “ill-defined neoliberal economic policies,” specifically citing the removal of the petrol subsidy three years ago.

The party described the new data, presented at a policy dialogue in Abuja on Thursday, as a “damning verdict” on the Tinubu administration. According to the ADC, poverty in Nigeria has climbed from approximately 50 percent before the subsidy removal to 63 percent afterward.

“This verdict reflects the real consequences of the APC government’s hasty removal of fuel subsidy without giving full consideration to how such a serious decision would impact on the livelihoods of ordinary citizens,” the statement read.

The ADC highlighted that the macroeconomic shock from the subsidy removal has triggered cascading costs, driving up the prices of food, transportation, and other essentials. The party argued that while the government justified the policy on the premise of rechanneling funds to health and education, those sectors have not seen improved funding, and citizens have felt no tangible benefits.

Citing independent surveys, the ADC noted a widespread public discontent, with 93 percent of Nigerians believing the country is heading in the wrong direction, 88 percent describing the economy as bad, and 74 percent rating their personal living conditions as poor.

“A large majority of Nigerians report going without basic necessities such as food, clean water, medical care, cooking fuel, and even cash income at different times during the past year,” the statement continued. “For millions of households, economic hardship is no longer a temporary difficulty, it has become daily reality.”

The African Democratic Congress concluded that by the standard measure of whether economic policy improves the lives of citizens and protects the vulnerable, “the APC government has failed.”

Kano State Government has approved the sum of ₦608,394,370.49 for the settlement of electricity bills owed to the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) for five major water treatment plants covering November and December 2025.

This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the 38th Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at the Government House.

Waiya explained that the council’s decision was part of broader commitments to improve infrastructure, strengthen public services, and enhance socio-economic development across the state. According to him, “After exhaustive discussions, the Council approved several projects and commitments aimed at improving infrastructure, strengthening public services, empowering citizens and enhancing socio-economic development across Kano State.” He noted that the total approvals amounted to ₦310,266,203,046, cutting across key sectors of governance.

In the education sector, Waiya revealed that the council approved ₦238,020,000 for the purchase of UTME (JAMB) forms to be distributed to eligible candidates across the state. He added that ₦1.54 billion was also approved for the settlement of funds to boarding school suppliers to cover a six-week feeding period. “The Council also approved ₦236,198,174.08 for the settlement of outstanding payments for eggs and chickens supplied to boarding schools across the State,” Waiya stated.

On infrastructure, the Commissioner announced that ₦13.2 billion was approved for the implementation of 2026 constituency projects across the state. He further disclosed that ₦2.9 billion was approved for the reconstruction of Race Course Extension to Audu Bako Way, Alu Avenue, and Commandant Close off Race Course Road in Nassarawa Local Government Area. “Approval was also granted for the rehabilitation and overlay of the Gidan Malam Aminu Kano–Tal’udu–Gadonkaya–Yahaya Gusau–Sharada Road at the cost of ₦1.67 billion,” he said.

Waiya also highlighted approvals in the health sector, including ₦89,710,080 for the procurement of four dialysis machines for the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre and ₦165,637,550 for dental equipment and materials. He stressed that these interventions were aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.

In the housing sector, the Commissioner announced a major approval of ₦113.19 billion for the construction of a mass housing scheme comprising 480 houses at Rijiyar Gwan-Gwan, tagged “Gida Gida Mega City.” He added that ₦1 billion was also approved for the establishment of an Emergency Operations Management Centre at the Government House.

Other notable approvals included ₦1.34 billion for the 2026 Ramadan Feeding Programme under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, ₦1.7 billion as compensation to households affected by the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s 330KVA transmission line project, and ₦210 million for the production of 10 million seedlings for the 2026 Annual Tree Planting Campaign.

Waiya concluded by emphasizing that the approvals reflect the government’s commitment to sustainable development and improved service delivery. “These approvals and policy decisions clearly demonstrate the commitment of the Kano State Government under the leadership of His Excellency to sustainable development, improved service delivery and the overall wellbeing of the people of Kano State,” he said.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday convened a nearly two-hour security meeting with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, marking the first of such gathering since Tunji Disu assumed office as Inspector-General of Police.

The security chiefs, who arrived at the Villa without their usual official vehicles, making identification difficult, departed the premises at approximately 5:10pm after extensive deliberations with the President.

The service chiefs and the IG were identified by newsmen present at the Villa as they left the forecourt following the closed-door meeting.

The session comes amid heightened security concerns across the country, particularly the recent killings of military commanding officers in various theatres of operation.

In the past week alone, the military lost at least three commanding officers in charge of forward operating bases following a surge in attacks on security formations and personnel, especially in the North-East where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgents have intensified assaults on military positions.

Notable among recent incidents was the attack on Ngoshe in Borno State, which resulted in abductions, as well as separate assaults on Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok, all in Borno State.

The attacks prompted responses from both President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, who vowed to deploy overwhelming force to end the insurgency.

As of the time of filing this report, details of the discussions at the security meeting had not been disclosed to the media.