{
  "id": 8078515,
  "title": "Atiku to FG: You can’t keep watching prices rise and tell citizens to endure",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/atiku-to-fg-you-cant-keep-watching-prices-rise-and-tell-citizens-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T18:26:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/atiku-to-fg-you-cant-keep-watching-prices-rise-and-tell-citizens-to-endure/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Nigerian government over the rising cost of living, urging them to consider the plight of citizens as they endure mounting expenses. In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku highlighted Nigeria's worsening child malnutrition rates as a critical issue stemming from the cost-of-living crisis. The latest figures reveal that 41.1% of children under five are stunted, 19.2% are severely stunted, and the rate soars to 58.2% in the North-West region. Nearly two million children are also battling severe acute malnutrition, with only around 20% receiving treatment. Atiku emphasized that these statistics represent the dire consequences of the economic hardship faced by millions of Nigerians, particularly mothers who must decide how much and what their children can eat. He underscored that a child does not comprehend inflation figures but only knows if food is available on the table. When nutritious food becomes inaccessible for many families, the repercussions eventually manifest in the physical development of our children. Atiku criticized the relationship between energy costs and household welfare, noting that his economic program prioritizes affordability. The World Bank has previously observed that elevated petrol prices directly diminish household purchasing power and can also indirectly impact the prices of other goods and services, especially transportation. Atiku argued that fuel price hikes make transporting essential goods like tomatoes, rice, and educational supplies more expensive, ultimately affecting the dinner table. He proposed a targeted production subsidy for domestically refined crude oil, rather than reintroducing subsidies for imported petrol. This intervention would be capped, transparently budgeted, and independently audited. Atiku stressed that supporting what Nigeria produces and refines, lowering domestic production costs, and ensuring the benefit reaches consumers would be more effective than subsidizing imports. He explained that reducing the underlying cost of energy is crucial not just for petrol consumption but also for energy and transportation costs that permeate agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, markets, and household expenditure. The subsidy proposal aims to alleviate the financial burden on various sectors, including farmers, traders, bus drivers, and parents, allowing them to allocate more resources to better nourishment. Atiku emphasized that addressing economic pressures is essential to ensure that the ordinary Nigerian can afford to live. He called for expanding treatments for severely malnourished children, enhancing maternal and child nutrition programs, and guaranteeing that nutrition budgets are effectively delivered to communities. However, he reiterated that confronting economic challenges is equally vital to prevent a future where economic growth does not translate into improved living standards for the population. Atiku firmly stated his intention to lower energy, transportation, and production costs, bolster Nigerian production, restore purchasing power, and provide families with the necessary breathing room to once again afford a decent life.",
  "summary": "Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has tackled the Federal Government over cost of living crisis, asking how long it will take for citizens to endure. In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described Nigeria’s worsening child-malnutrition figures as one of the most disturbing manifestations of the country’s cost-of-living […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}