Subsidy removal: Tinubu govt creating vicious cycle of poverty – Atiku

Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has accused President Bola Tinubu's government of creating a vicious cycle of poverty in Nigeria. Atiku made this claim in a statement where he criticized the government's decision to remove fuel subsidies and allocate more funds to state governments. However, Atiku questioned the effectiveness of this move, pointing out that it has led to a rise in the cost of basic necessities such as transportation and food.

According to Atiku, the government's decision to increase the cost of education further exacerbated the poverty crisis. The former vice president stated, "This government took away subsidies, made transportation, food, and almost every other basic need more expensive, and let the cost of going to university go up so much that many families can't afford it anymore."

Atiku further criticized the government's establishment of NELFUND, a student loan scheme, which he says has provided young Nigerians with loans to cover school fees. However, this move, according to Atiku, has come at a time when many families are struggling to pay for their children's education due to the government's earlier actions.

Atiku concluded by questioning the effectiveness of the government's actions, stating, "What kind of reform first empties a family's pocket and then offers the child a loan to survive the hardship government helped create?" He emphasized that this is not progress, but rather a vicious cycle of government-manufactured poverty.