Atiku also blamed the rising insecurity for the collapse of food production, saying farmers could no longer access their farmlands due to attacks by armed groups.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised the alarm that Nigerians now treat ransom demanded by kidnappers and bandits like regular household expenses, such as house rent and school fees, due to the failure of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to tackle rising insecurity in the country.
He lamented the situation on Thursday via a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Atiku added that the comparison of Nigeria’s debt profile with other African countries by the Tinubu-led administration shows a disconnect from the economic reality on the ground.
He wondered how a government could celebrate a debt that has not positively impacted the lives of millions of Nigerians who can “barely afford one meal a day”.
“It is both astonishing and insulting that at a time when millions of Nigerians can barely afford one meal a day, the presidency is celebrating debt figures as though indebtedness were an achievement,” the statement read.
“In many parts of Nigeria today, travelling by road has become a gamble with death. Families go to bed praying not to receive midnight calls announcing the abduction of loved ones.”
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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain also frowned upon how the payment of kidnap ransoms has suddenly become a norm for many families in the country.
“Ransom payments have become as routine as school fees and house rent in many homes,” Atiku said.
He went on to blame rising insecurity for the collapse of food production, saying farmers can no longer access their farmlands due to attacks by armed groups.
“As a result, food production has declined sharply, leading to hunger, rising prices, and widespread hardship,” he added.
While acknowledging that borrowing can be useful when properly managed, Atiku argued that Nigeria’s current debt has not translated into improved living conditions for its citizens.
