Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government over what he described as attempts to shift responsibility for Nigeria’s security and economic challenges onto citizens and the media.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 24, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku expressed concern over recent comments from the Presidency suggesting that some kidnapping incidents occur because travellers ignore security advice against night journeys.
The former vice president said such remarks raise serious questions about the government’s ability to guarantee the safety of citizens.
“Is the presidency admitting that Nigerians can only be safe for a few hours of the day? Is this an official declaration that Africa’s largest economy has been reduced to an eight-hour economy where citizens must shut down their businesses, abandon legitimate travel, and retreat indoors once the sun sets?” Atiku asked.
He argued that the responsibility for protecting lives and property rests with the government and not with citizens trying to carry out their daily activities.
“The primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property. Citizens do not surrender their freedoms in exchange for curfews imposed by fear,” he said.
Atiku maintained that insecurity remains a major concern across the country and should not be dismissed as a perception problem.
He pointed to incidents of violence and criminal attacks in several states, including Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Katsina and Niger, as evidence of the challenges facing the nation.
According to him, ordinary Nigerians should not be blamed when they become victims of crime while conducting legitimate activities.
“A trader travelling from Kano to Lagos, a businessman returning from Abuja to Kaduna, a farmer transporting produce to market, or a family embarking on a legitimate journey should not be blamed when criminals attack them. The blame belongs squarely where it should — on those charged with securing the country,” he said.
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The former vice president warned that encouraging citizens to limit movement because of insecurity could have damaging effects on economic growth and productivity.
“A nation cannot prosper when its people are told that safety ends at sunset. Economies grow because people can move freely, trade freely, and conduct lawful activities without fear,” he stated.
Atiku also turned his attention to the economy, arguing that millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with rising living costs and shrinking incomes.
He said soaring food prices, inflation, unemployment and declining purchasing power have worsened the hardship faced by households across the country.
“The father who goes to bed wondering how to provide the next meal for his family does not need a newspaper report to confirm hardship,” he said.
The former vice president further criticised what he described as attempts by government officials to fault the media for reporting economic difficulties and security concerns.
“Blaming journalists for reporting insecurity and hardship is like blaming a thermometer for a fever,” Atiku said.
He urged the administration to focus on addressing the country’s problems rather than disputing public perceptions.
“Nigeria does not need explanations for suffering. Nigeria needs solutions. Nigeria does not need lectures about perception. Nigeria needs results,” he added.
The comments come as public debate continues over the impact of recent economic reforms and the persistent security challenges confronting several parts of the country.