As President Bola Tinubu’s administration marks its midterm, the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party and former presidential candidate, Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, has described the government’s economic reforms as bold and fundamental but lacking the structure needed to shield ordinary Nigerians from growing hardship.
Sani made the remarks while speaking on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, on Wednesday.
According to him, the President’s economic blueprint is heavily capitalist in orientation and fails to account for Nigeria’s socio-economic realities.
“What Bola Ahmed Tinubu is trying to do is run a highly geared capitalist economy in an environment that is substantially weak and poor. That’s the real problem,” Sani said.
While acknowledging that some of the President’s decisions—such as fuel subsidy removal and currency unification—are theoretically sound, the ADP leader insisted the policies have yet to yield any meaningful improvement in the lives of the majority.
“I will say it is a mixed bag. The reforms introduced by President Tinubu are without doubt bold, fundamental, and tough. On a long-term basis, they may yield the desired results, but right now, they’re hurting the common people,” he added.
Sani, who flew the ADP flag in the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections, criticised what he described as a disconnect between policy pronouncements and actual implementation.
“Governments are always loud in policy declarations, but the problem lies in implementation. I haven’t seen anything that convinces me this administration will end up in the good books of Nigerians, economically speaking,” he stated.
The ADP chairman noted that while the President took commendable steps in reshuffling the Central Bank leadership early in his tenure, other decisions—such as the anticipated cabinet reshuffle and the recent changes at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)—appear politically motivated.
He questioned the sincerity of the government’s approach, accusing it of prioritising political convenience over institutional integrity.
“The government is playing politics with critical institutions. Programs may sound amazing, but their impact on Nigerians is barely visible,” Sani said, referencing persistent unemployment, erratic electricity supply, and what he termed “pro-elite” policies.
The former presidential hopeful warned that the government’s reform agenda is becoming increasingly disconnected from the harsh realities faced by Nigerians.
“When Tinubu came into office two years ago, around 103 million Nigerians were living below the poverty line.
Today, that number has increased to 129 million. That means nearly 25 to 30 million additional people have slipped into poverty largely due to the removal of fuel subsidies,” he said.
Sani also condemned the recent hike in electricity tariffs, describing the 200 per cent increase as unjustifiable amidst widespread economic distress.
“The increase has placed unbearable pressure on both citizens and businesses,” he said.
He cautioned that unless the Tinubu-led administration aligns its policies with the practical needs of Nigerians, the boldness of its reforms may not be enough to win public confidence.
“No matter how ambitious these policies may appear, if they do not reflect the needs of the people, the government risks losing the trust of the very citizens it claims to serve,” he warned.
'
'
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
