The African Democratic Congress has criticised the Federal Government’s celebration of the reported Gross Domestic Product growth of Nigeria, arguing that the economic figures do not reflect the hardship facing ordinary citizens. In a statement released on Wednesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC stated the government was attempting to “use headline GDP figures to whitewash the deep economic suffering Nigerians are currently enduring across the country.” The opposition party noted that rising food prices, inflation, weak purchasing power, and the collapse of small businesses indicated that many citizens were yet to feel the impact of the reported economic growth.
“People do not eat GDP,” the party declared, while insisting that economic growth is only meaningful when it improves living conditions and creates jobs. The ADC added, “Economic growth that does not reduce suffering, create jobs, improve incomes, or restore dignity to citizens is empty growth. Growth that only exists in official reports while citizens descend deeper into hardship is not meaningful progress.” The party further accused the government of focusing on economic statistics rather than the realities confronting Nigerians daily in markets and homes. It noted that food prices have become unbearable while small businesses shut down under the crushing weight of inflation and energy costs.
The ADC also questioned the basis for any celebration amid worsening economic conditions. The statement asked, “What exactly should Nigerians celebrate? The fact that food inflation continues to devastate households? That millions of young Nigerians remain unemployed or underemployed? That businesses are collapsing faster than new ones are emerging?” The criticism followed a report by Quartus Economics showing that the dollar GDP of Nigeria rose by 22 per cent to about $307bn in 2025. The report stated that the GDP of Nigeria increased from about $252bn in 2024 to $307.5bn in 2025, surpassing the Sub-Saharan African average.
However, the ADC maintained that macroeconomic indicators alone could not be used to measure the wellbeing of citizens. “The purpose of governance is not to manage public relations for economic statistics. The purpose of governance is to improve the living conditions of the people,” the party said. It further argued that until growth translates into “affordable food, stable electricity, decent jobs, lower business costs, and improved purchasing power,” the government has no basis to declare economic success. This comes amid ongoing debates over the impact of the economic reforms of the Federal Government, including subsidy removal and exchange rate adjustments.
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