Tinubu Not Debt Addict, Atiku Clueless — Group

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The The Democratic Front has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the Federal Government’s borrowing policy, insisting that the President is not “addicted to debt” but financing critical infrastructure.

The group described Atiku’s comments as misguided and politically driven, arguing that they ignored the scale of Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and ongoing economic reforms.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Wale Adedayo, the organisation said the administration’s borrowing strategy was anchored on empirical data and long-term development needs.

It cited an analysis by the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI), which it said showed that Nigeria requires at least $14.2 billion annually over a 10-year period to bridge its infrastructure gap.

The group questioned how such funding needs could be met without borrowing or a significant rise in taxation.

“We wonder where Atiku Abubakar expects Nigeria to generate such a humongous amount of money without massively increasing taxes,” the statement said.

According to the group, the Tinubu administration’s borrowing is tied to major national infrastructure projects designed to improve productivity and stimulate economic growth.

It listed projects including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Lagos Green Line rail project, Kano Metro Rail, and Kaduna Light Rail as examples of initiatives financed through external borrowing.

The organisation argued that these projects would generate economic returns capable of servicing the loans taken to fund them.

It also maintained that weak infrastructure and population pressures remain key drivers of unemployment and poverty in the country.

The group further accused Atiku of misrepresenting the country’s economic realities, saying his criticisms failed to acknowledge improvements in infrastructure spending under the current administration.

It referenced a policy document by IMPI, which it said ranked the Tinubu administration as the highest spender on infrastructure in the last 25 years.

According to the statement, no government since 1999 has matched the level of annual infrastructure spending currently recorded under Tinubu.

The group also compared present spending patterns with past administrations, arguing that earlier governments failed to translate revenue inflows into meaningful infrastructure development.

It said that during Atiku’s tenure as Vice President, Nigeria’s capital expenditure levels were significantly lower despite rising oil revenues, leading to persistent infrastructure gaps.

The Democratic Front also faulted what it called “intemperate” remarks by the former Vice President, insisting that such criticisms stem from political frustration rather than objective analysis.

It urged Nigerians to disregard Atiku’s position on borrowing and continue to support the government’s economic reform agenda.

The group added that the current administration remains committed to building a more resilient economy through strategic investments in infrastructure and long-term development planning.