Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said worsening economic hardship is pushing more young Nigerians into dangerous and poorly regulated activities as they struggle to make a living.
Atiku made the statement during a visit to Minna, Niger State, where he donated N20 million to families of 37 suspected artisanal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation.
The former vice president met with families and survivors of the incident, saying the tragedy should prompt a wider examination of poverty, unemployment and rising living costs that may be forcing young Nigerians to take greater risks simply to survive.
According to Atiku, the account given by one of the survivors highlighted the difficult conditions surrounding the deaths.
“It was a gory tale listening to one of the survivors. He told us that more than 68 of them were crammed into one small detention facility and that conditions became so desperate that they had to drink one another’s urine just to stay hydrated,” he said.
Atiku said whatever allegations had been made against the detainees, they were still entitled to humane treatment and the protection of the law.
“No Nigerian should ever be subjected to such indignity in the custody of his own government. These were human beings in the care of the state. Whatever accusations may have been made against them, they were entitled to their lives, their dignity and the protection of the law,” he added.
He said the deaths of the 37 suspected miners must lead to truth, justice and accountability, while also prompting authorities to examine the circumstances that drive young people towards hazardous occupations.
“Thirty-seven young Nigerians entered the custody of the state alive and did not return alive to their families. That tragedy demands truth, justice and accountability,” Atiku said.
He added that the country must also confront the economic conditions that leave young Nigerians with limited options for earning a living.
“But beyond establishing what happened in that detention facility, we must also ask why so many of our young people are being pushed into dangerous and precarious livelihoods simply to survive,” he said.
Atiku also visited the Emir of Minna, Alhaji (Dr) Umar Farouk Bahago, Chairman of the Minna Emirate Council, and former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.).
Speaking about the wider economic situation, he said government could not separate the hardship facing households and young people from the risks they take to survive.
“When families can no longer afford the basics and young people are forced to take extraordinary risks just to earn a living, government cannot pretend that everything is working,” Atiku said.
He argued that the success of economic reforms should ultimately be measured by their impact on ordinary Nigerians rather than by the announcement of policies alone.
“Economic reform must ultimately be measured by what it does to the lives of ordinary people. If life becomes progressively more difficult for families, workers and young people, then the government has a responsibility to reconsider the choices producing those outcomes,” he said.
Atiku Restates Plan to Reduce Cost of Living
Atiku also restated his pledge to reduce the cost of living if elected president, proposing a targeted production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria rather than returning to an open-ended subsidy on imported fuel.
He said the proposed approach would support domestic refining, create jobs and ensure that government intervention produces measurable benefits for consumers.
“My promise to make life affordable again is not a political slogan. It is a solemn covenant with the Nigerian people,” Atiku said.
“We will support what Nigeria produces. We will support fuel refined in Nigeria, create Nigerian jobs and insist that every naira of government support delivers a measurable benefit to the consumer,” he added.
The ADC candidate said the government should focus not only on announcing reforms but also on improving the everyday living conditions of Nigerians.
“The purpose of government is not merely to announce reforms. The purpose of government is to make life better for the people,” he said.
Atiku said young Nigerians should have access to education, skills, employment and other opportunities that would allow them to fulfil their potential instead of being driven towards dangerous and uncertain ways of making a living.
