ADC Blasts Tinubu Over Rising Poverty: 139 Million Nigerians Now Below Poverty Line

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu, urging his administration to accept the findings of the World Bank’s October 2025 report, which indicates that 139 million Nigerians are now living below the poverty line — a sharp rise from 81 million in 2019.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the figures as clear evidence that the economic policies of the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) have worsened the living conditions of millions of Nigerians.

According to the ADC, the government has consistently used “creative statistics” to paint a misleading picture of economic progress while millions of citizens continue to face hunger and deprivation.

The party highlighted that the World Bank data reveals a grim reality: six out of every ten Nigerians now live in poverty, up from four in ten in 2019. The report also shows that nearly 30 million Nigerians have slipped into extreme poverty, unable to afford basic necessities despite spending all their income on food.

“The World Bank numbers tell a simple but painful story: under the APC and President Tinubu’s government, more Nigerians have fallen into poverty than at any other time in our history,” the statement said.

The ADC further criticized the government for celebrating increased revenue collection and alleged economic stability while poor households spend up to 70 percent of their income on food, leaving little or nothing for rent, school fees, or medicine.

The party also lamented the collapse of social safety nets, noting that coverage for vulnerable citizens has dropped from 20 percent in 2019 to just 6 percent in 2025, with government support amounting to a mere 0.14 percent of GDP compared to the global average of 1.5 percent.

“The worst is not over. It appears the worst has actually not arrived. Rather than defending propaganda, the government should accept the unbiased verdict from its partner, the World Bank, and make urgent amends,” the ADC urged.