Nigeria Economy In Bigger Trouble Than APC Govt. Willing To Admit, Atiku Raises Alarm

***Challenges NBS To Disclose To Public Recent Statistics On Poverty, Unemployment

***Plans Government Of National Unity

ABUJA – The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has raised alarm over the economy situation of the country, pointing out that the nation’s economy is in bigger trouble than the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is willing to admit.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming 2023 election, challenged the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to share with the public their recent statistics on poverty, unemployment and commodity prices.

Atiku, who said in a statement that the nation needs to bake a bigger cake and not bigger debts, disclosed why the economy situation in the country has not changed.

Atiku said: “Last week the National Bureau of Statistics released the GDP figures for Q2 2022. The government has been unreasonably upbeat about the reported growth rate of 3.4%. The plain truth is that the economy is in deeper trouble than the APC-led government is willing to admit.

“The citizens’ level of misery hasn’t changed, and the reasons are obvious: first, the key sectors of the economy, notably agriculture, oil and gas (the country’s cash cow) and manufacturing (that contributes to jobs), are either growing slowly or declining.

“Second, unabated are rising commodity prices occasioned by high energy and transportation costs (and aggravated by the disorderliness in the forex market).

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“Also, debt levels continue to rise while the fiscal capacity to service its debts is declining. All these are enough to erase the perceived gains from output growth.

“Having run out of ideas, it appears that our unprecedented level of indebtedness is whetting the government’s appetite for more debt. This is a recipe for macroeconomic instability.

“We challenge the National Bureau of Statistics to share with the public their recent statistics on poverty, unemployment and commodity prices — the reality of which will leave no hope for the common man.

“Like I have said before, increasing debts will never be a solution to our indebtedness. My government, if elected, will halt the rate of debt accumulation and instead focus on private-public partnerships in financing development.”

The former Vice President, who said government of national unity is one of his considerations, added that “also is the consideration of a government of national unity that will douse the temperature, unite Nigerians and pave the way for improved security.

“Improved security allows for investments and, therefore, an improved economy. Also targeted tax rebates to attract foreign and local investments, amongst other proactive measures to attract investments to grow the economy.”