October 1: Delta youths clash tear Tinubu-branded polos, boycott Independence Day Run[VIDEO]

On October 1, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, criticized President Bola Tinubu's economic policies in a world press conference in Abuja. Atiku highlighted the struggles faced by average Nigerians, stating that they cannot afford three square meals for their families.

He pointed out that tuition fees have surged, with some institutions increasing their charges by over 400%. The former Vice President also criticized consumer credit, arguing that it does not lead to prosperity for workers, as repayment further strains their already insufficient wages. Atiku emphasized that a government cannot claim a "human face" while worsening the lives of Nigerians in terms of access to education, healthcare, and basic necessities.

He lamented that Nigerians have spent three years searching for such a face in various aspects of their lives, only to find deepening poverty, unaffordable healthcare, exorbitant school fees, unaffordable food, and crippling electricity bills. Atiku questioned the government's ability to manage multiple budgets simultaneously and called for transparency in budget implementation, expressing frustration over the lack of clarity on what has been funded, completed, and unpaid.