Tinubu Jabs Atiku Over Privatisation Record, Questions Legacy of Reforms

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a swipe at opposition figures 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 on Thursday at a Renewed Hope Agenda meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu questioned the outcomes of key privatisation efforts carried out during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The president specifically referenced Atiku’s tenure as chairman of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), the body responsible for supervising Nigeria’s privatisation policies through the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

Tinubu expressed concern over the current state of major industrial assets that were privatized during that period, including the troubled Ajaokuta Steel Company.

“They privatized the steel industry in Delta, is it working today? They privatized Ajaokuta, is it working today?” Tinubu said, as he challenged the effectiveness and long-term impact of the reforms.

In a broader critique, the president suggested that some of the privatisation efforts failed to deliver the expected economic benefits, raising questions about the management and oversight of the programme at the time.

Atiku, who served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007, chaired the NCP, which played a central role in Nigeria’s transition from state-owned enterprises to private-sector-led operations across several key industries.

The remarks add a fresh dimension to the ongoing political exchanges between the ruling administration and opposition leaders over economic policy and governance records.