The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the rising cost of petrol and other essential commodities is placing increasing pressure on Nigerian households and businesses.
The party said petrol prices reaching as high as ₦1,470 per litre had contributed to higher transportation costs and increased the prices of food, electricity, education and other basic necessities.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the rising cost of living was pushing Nigerians towards what it described as the limits of human endurance.
The opposition party also expressed concern over reports that some private schools had increased fees by between 30 and 40 per cent, arguing that household incomes had not risen at a similar rate.
The ADC said parents were already struggling with rising expenses, including fuel, food, rent, transportation and school fees.
It, however, said it did not blame school proprietors for the increases, noting that private schools were also facing higher operating costs, including taxes, electricity bills, fuel, rent and workers' salaries.
According to the party, the rising cost of petrol was having a wider impact on households, workers and businesses, with some families allegedly being forced to reduce spending on food, education and healthcare.
The ADC described the current petrol price as a major additional burden on Nigerians and criticised the Federal Government for what it described as demanding further sacrifices from citizens amid the rising cost of living.
The party argued that economic reforms should translate into improved living conditions for citizens rather than increasing pressure on households.
“A reform that continuously makes the people poorer is not working. An economic policy that produces impressive figures at government briefings but hunger in Nigerian homes is a failure,” the party said.
The ADC also linked the issue to the 2027 presidential election, saying the poll would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to choose between the current economic approach and the alternative programme proposed by its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The party reiterated Atiku's position that petrol prices could be reduced by supporting domestic fuel production and reintroducing subsidy measures, which it said would help lower the cost of transportation, food and production.
The ADC maintained that economic reforms should be designed to protect citizens from excessive hardship.
It urged the Tinubu administration to take urgent steps to address the impact of rising petrol prices and other economic pressures.
The party also warned the government not to mistake Nigerians' resilience in the face of economic difficulties for acceptance of the situation, calling for measures that would reduce the burden on households and businesses.
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