Tinubu burying Nigeria by instalment, MDPCO alleges

The Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO) criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu again on Monday, accusing it of “burying Nigeria by instalment” over the country’s mounting N166.7 trillion public debt, an estimated $2.3 trillion infrastructure deficit and the Federal Government’s reported bid for a fresh $1.5 billion World Bank loan.

MDPCO is the campaign organisation of the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and his running mate, Mr Lawal Daura, for the 2027 polls.

The organisation, which made the criticism through its Director of Strategic Communications, Mr Richard Ihediwa, warned that continued borrowing without commensurate improvements in Nigerians’ living conditions could mortgage the country’s future and expose the economy to mounting debt-repayment risks.

It said, “President Tinubu is burying Nigeria by instalment, saddling the nation with a debt burden her future generations may not be able to repay.

“At a time when Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit has hit an estimated $2.3 trillion and public debt has risen to N166.7 trillion, the President’s fresh $1.5 billion loan bid raises serious concerns about the sustainability of the country’s borrowing.

“Rather than translating into meaningful improvements in the lives of Nigerians, these mounting debts risk mortgaging the nation’s future and pushing the country deeper into economic distress.”

MDPCO argued that the country’s rising financial obligations had yet to translate into meaningful improvements in Nigerians’ living conditions, amid expanding poverty, deteriorating public services and growing concerns about the nation’s economic future.

It cited the World Bank’s April 2026 Nigeria Development Update, which reportedly estimated that 140 million Nigerians, representing 63 per cent of the population, were living in poverty.

MDPCO also criticised the government over a report that concluded that about 70 per cent of Nigerian children under the age of 10 could not read or understand a simple sentence, describing the figures as evidence of the challenges confronting the country’s economy and education sector.

The organisation further alleged that the hardship facing ordinary Nigerians contrasted sharply with the lifestyles of some government officials, whom it accused of displaying wealth and indulging in luxury while millions of citizens struggled to meet their basic needs.

It said widespread poverty, insecurity, weakening public institutions and declining public confidence had heightened social tensions and deepened public frustration over the past three years.

On infrastructure, MDPCO stated that Nigeria’s deficit had reached an estimated $2.3 trillion, adding that experts believed the country would require about $100 billion annually over the next 30 years to bridge the gap.

The organisation faulted the administration’s fiscal management, arguing that the country lacked the transparency, procurement discipline and strategic investment required to ensure that public resources delivered tangible benefits.

It expressed concern over the reported N166.7 trillion public debt, warning that continued borrowing without corresponding economic gains could expose the country to serious repayment difficulties. It also raised concerns over allegations that some borrowed funds were being diverted into private pockets, although it did not provide specific evidence to substantiate the claims.

It said the presidential election scheduled for 16 January 2027 would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to determine the country’s political direction. It urged citizens to participate in the process and reject electoral manipulation by voting for the APM’s Makinde to reset the country.