President Bola Tinubu has taken a swipe at opposition leaders over their roles in Nigeria’s past economic reforms, singling out former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for criticism over the country’s privatisation programme.
Speaking during a Renewed Hope Agenda meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, Tinubu questioned the outcomes of key privatisation efforts carried out under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Tinubu specifically referenced Atiku’s tenure as Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, the policy-making body responsible for overseeing Nigeria’s privatisation programme through the Bureau of Public Enterprises.
“The head Atiku was the chairman of the Privatisation Council of Nigeria at one time,” Tinubu said, as he questioned the effectiveness of reforms implemented during that period.
He pointed to major industrial assets, including the Ajaokuta Steel Company, raising concerns over their current state and productivity.
“They privatized the steel industry in Delta, is it working today? They privatized Ajaokuta, is it working today? Go on the list,” Tinubu remarked.
The president also made a broader critique of opposition figures, accusing them of inconsistency and questioning their credibility in managing national assets.
Atiku, who chaired the National Council on Privatisation during the Obasanjo administration, played a central role in shaping Nigeria’s economic liberalisation policies in the early 2000s, particularly the transfer of state-owned enterprises to private ownership.
Tinubu’s remarks add to the growing political exchanges between the ruling administration and opposition figures ahead of the evolving national political landscape.
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