What the ADC Doesn’t Want Nigerians to Know About Economic Growth Under President Bola Tinubu
While opposition voices struggle to sell a failing narrative, hard data continues to expose the truth: Nigeria’s economy is undergoing one of the most significant macroeconomic turnarounds in its post-independence history under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
From Chronic Trade Deficits to Historic Surpluses
Before President Tinubu assumed office, Nigeria’s trade position was consistently negative:
2020: ₦7.375 trillion trade deficit ($18.9 billion)
2021: ₦1.94 trillion trade deficit ($6.49 billion)
Since May 29, 2023, that pattern has been completely reversed.
Under President Tinubu, Nigeria has recorded ten consecutive quarters of trade surpluses—an achievement unprecedented since independence in 1960:
₦1.3 trillion — Q3 2023
₦3.6 trillion — Q4 2023
₦4.4 trillion — Q1 2024
₦3.7 trillion — Q2 2024
₦5.3 trillion — Q3 2024
₦3.4 trillion — Q4 2024
₦5.2 trillion — Q1 2025
₦7.5 trillion — Q2 2025
₦6.7 trillion — Q3 2025
Within just the first nine months of 2025, Nigeria recorded a ₦19.34 trillion trade surplus—without even counting Q4 figures yet to be tabulated.
No administration in Nigeria’s history has delivered this level of consistency and scale in trade surpluses.
Key Economic Indicators Tell the Same Story
Beyond trade performance, the broader macroeconomic indicators further validate the progress:
Inflation: Reduced from 22.41% (May 2023) to 15.15%
Foreign Reserves: Increased from $35 billion to $46.7 billion (January 2026)
Total Public Debt: Reduced from $113.42 billion to $97 billion
GDP Growth: Expanded from ₦269.29 trillion to ₦372.8 trillion, adding ₦67 billion in less than two years
These are not coincidental outcomes. They are the result of deliberate macroeconomic reforms, fiscal discipline, and strategic leadership.
Global Validation, Not Political Spin
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) publicly acknowledged Nigeria’s progress, stating:
> “Nigeria’s macroeconomic reforms are beginning to yield results.”
This position has been echoed by respected economists and technocrats, including Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Professor Charles Soludo, both of whom have affirmed the credibility and direction of the ongoing reforms.
Kwara State: A Case Study That Exposes the Falsehoods
The claims by Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), collapse entirely when examined against realities on the ground—particularly in his home state, Kwara.
Under the Buhari administration, Kwara received ₦2.5–₦3.9 billion monthly.
Under President Tinubu, Kwara now receives approximately ₦15.78 billion monthly.
In concrete terms:
2022 total FAAC allocation: ₦44.32 billion
First 8 months of 2025 alone: ₦126.27 billion
And this excludes allocations for September to December.
Even Kwara’s own governor has openly acknowledged this improvement. The suggestion that anyone—least of all people in Abdullahi’s polling unit—would prefer a return to unpaid salaries and starvation allocations simply does not stand up to reason.
Facts Versus Political Desperation
When an opposition party is forced to deny verifiable data, dismiss international institutions, and contradict respected economists, it signals not leadership—but desperation.
Economic management is not assessed by television rhetoric or partisan outrage. It is measured by data, trends, and outcomes—all of which point in one direction: Nigeria is stabilising, rebuilding, and repositioning under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Conclusion: Progress Is Not Instant, But It Is Real
Macroeconomic recovery does not translate overnight into household comfort—but it is the necessary foundation for sustainable growth, job creation, and improved living standards.
The fundamentals are improving. The direction is clear. And as these reforms mature, the benefits will increasingly reflect at the microeconomic level—where Nigerians feel it most.
History will not be kind to propaganda.
It will, however, remember results.
