The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly prioritizing early campaign activities for the 2027 elections over addressing pressing national challenges facing Nigerians.
In a statement issued by ACF's National Publicity Secretary, Professor Muhammad-Baba, the northern socio-political group expressed disappointment that the current administration appears more concerned with political maneuvers and attracting defectors than tackling the worsening security situation and economic hardship plaguing the country.
"A most perverse illustration of reckless profligacy of public expenditure has been the revelation about insertions in the 2025 federal budget, for the provision of streetlights at a staggering and unimaginable costs of over N260 million each," the statement highlighted.
The ACF further noted that the absence of any official denial regarding these controversial budget allocations demonstrates the government's insensitivity to the deteriorating living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
Security Concerns and Government Response
According to the forum, public policy responses to the insecurity situation, particularly in northern Nigeria, have remained largely ineffective. The statement emphasized that government officials continue to engage in what it described as "profligacy and reckless expenditures" while citizens are being asked to make sacrifices.
The ACF warned that such budgetary practices at the federal level are often replicated at state levels, further compounding the economic challenges facing Nigerians.
The group reiterated its position from a year ago that the current existential challenges facing the nation are symptomatic of fundamental problems in the political economy that require urgent policy attention.
This criticism comes amid reports of a recent tragedy where a retired Army Major reportedly died in kidnappers' custody despite the payment of a ₦10 million ransom, highlighting the severity of the security challenges that continue to plague parts of the country.
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