The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to accept the findings of the latest World Bank report, which highlighted a sharp rise in poverty levels across Nigeria.
The party said the report is a clear indication that the government’s economic policies have worsened the living conditions of millions of citizens.
In a statement issued on Thursday the 9th of October, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the World Bank’s October 2025 report, which revealed that 139 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line, compared to 81 million in 2019, as evidence of the administration’s failed economic direction and misplaced priorities.
“The World Bank’s report tells a painful truth under the APC and President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, more Nigerians have slipped into poverty than ever before.
“In 2019, four out of every ten Nigerians were poor; today, that number has risen to at least six out of ten,” the ADC said.
“Yet, during his Independence Day speech, President Tinubu claimed that the worst is over, quoting figures that now appear to be nothing more than carefully crafted propaganda to paint a false picture of progress.
“Behind those polished numbers lies the harsh reality of growing human suffering families going hungry, children leaving school, and households selling their few possessions just to afford food and medicine.”
The party noted that about 30 million Nigerians have fallen into extreme poverty under the APC-led government, unable to meet basic food needs even when they spend all they earn on it.
“The government may boast of record revenues and stability, but the truth is Nigerians are getting poorer every day,” the ADC added.
According to the statement, “Food prices have skyrocketed, with a bag of rice now five times costlier than four years ago. Most poor families spend nearly all their income just to eat, while social safety nets have almost vanished.
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“The World Bank’s data clearly shows that life has become harder under the APC and President Tinubu, and instead of denying this reality, the government should accept the facts and act before things get worse.”
The ADC pointed out that Nigeria’s social safety nets have collapsed, with coverage shrinking from 20 percent in 2019 to just 6 percent in 2025, while assistance to the poorest citizens is now almost nonexistent.
It also accused the APC government of using misleading statistics to downplay the scale of poverty, arguing that Nigeria’s poverty line is unrealistically low compared to global standards, effectively concealing the real extent of deprivation.
The party urged President Tinubu to accept the World Bank’s verdict and confront the growing hardship rather than redefine poverty to suit his administration’s narrative.
“What Nigeria needs now is not cosmetic reform but genuine leadership that puts people first,” the ADC stated.
“Inclusive growth must go beyond slogans. It should be a deliberate strategy. We call on the Tinubu-led APC government to stop mistaking revenue collection for progress and instead focus on food security, job creation, and strong social protection systems to support the millions pushed into vulnerability by its poor economic policies.”