A former All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Kebbi State, Mallam Salihu Isa Nataro, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review aspects of his administration’s economic reforms to ensure they deliver more immediate relief to Nigerians.
Nataro said the government should pay greater attention to the impact of rising living costs and declining purchasing power on households while strengthening social protection measures.
He also cautioned the Federal Government against excessive borrowing, warning that continued accumulation of debt could expose Nigeria to a debt trap.
His comments come amid an expanding national debate over the sustainability of government borrowing and whether the benefits of the Tinubu administration’s reforms are reaching ordinary Nigerians.
Nigeria’s public debt has increased substantially since 2023, although the government has maintained that borrowing is being used to finance infrastructure and other productive investments. Recent analysis shows that both external and domestic debt have risen significantly during the period.
Nataro argued that the country’s growing population and high cost of living require policies that place greater emphasis on household welfare.
He called for stronger social safety nets and measures capable of improving citizens’ purchasing power.
His latest comments are notable because Nataro is an APC figure who has previously expressed support for aspects of Tinubu’s reform programme.
In May, he defended the administration’s subsidy removal and argued that some reforms were beginning to produce benefits, while also calling for changes where government officials were underperforming.
His latest intervention therefore reflects a more critical emphasis on the social consequences of the reforms rather than an outright rejection of the administration’s economic direction.
The debate over borrowing is likely to remain central to Nigeria’s economic conversation as the government seeks funds for infrastructure and development while managing debt-servicing obligations.
For the Tinubu administration, the challenge is increasingly about demonstrating that borrowing and reform can translate into stronger economic productivity and tangible improvements in living standards.