The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, calling for urgent reforms that address the worsening hardships in the northern region. The ACF highlighted food insecurity, lack of education, and reliance on microeconomic activities, urging the government to ensure reforms do not exacerbate poverty.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, urging a review to better address the escalating hardships facing Nigerians, particularly in the northern region. During a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, the ACF expressed concern that the current economic reforms had intensified the challenges confronting the average Nigerian.
The Forum highlighted the unique vulnerabilities of the northern region, pointing to severe food insecurity, limited access to education, and a reliance on small-scale economic activities as primary survival strategies. It emphasized that while reforms are necessary, they should not further exacerbate poverty or hardship. The ACF stressed that the livelihoods of many in the north are intricately tied to microeconomic activities, which are already under strain due to current policies.
"The northern region faces significant challenges, from acute food insecurity to a lack of educational opportunities for its youth," the communiqué stated. "Although these issues are daunting, they are not insurmountable. However, the current government’s economic policies are worsening these conditions, failing to show the needed sensitivity to the precarious situation of the people."
The ACF reiterated that economic reforms should not impoverish those they are designed to uplift. The communiqué concluded by urging President Tinubu’s administration to reconsider its approach to ensure that economic progress benefits all Nigerians, warning that without immediate changes, the very people these reforms aim to help may not survive long enough to see their intended benefits.
Furthermore, the ACF reiterated its stance on supporting a Northern candidate for the 2027 presidential election, signaling their dissatisfaction with the current administration's economic trajectory.
