KEY POINTS
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Atiku demands accountability for the 2020 Lekki shooting.
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He criticises rising petrol prices and living costs.
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He proposes economic support for workers and students.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government over unresolved questions surrounding the October 2020 Lekki tollgate shooting and the rising cost of living, saying Nigerians are still waiting for accountability and economic relief.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, made the remarks in a post on his X account on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as Nigeria marked six years since security operatives opened fire on #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos.
He questioned who authorised the operation and accused the All Progressives Congress-led government of failing to provide satisfactory answers about the incident.
Lekki Shooting and Economic Hardship
Atiku said Nigerians, particularly young people, continued to demand justice for those affected by the Lekki shooting. He also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s response to the incident in 2020, arguing that attention had been directed towards questioning the protesters rather than establishing accountability for the violence.
According to Atiku, the absence of clear answers has deepened public anger, grief and distrust in government. He argued that the administration, which has been led by the APC since 2023, must address the questions surrounding the incident rather than allow them to remain unresolved.
The former vice president also linked the demand for accountability to the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, especially young people and workers struggling with transportation, food, education and housing costs.
He cited petrol selling at ₦1,405 per litre as an example of the pressure on household budgets, arguing that rising transport expenses and declining purchasing power were making it harder for people to maintain their livelihoods.
Atiku illustrated the situation with the account of a young woman who reportedly resigned from her job because her salary could no longer cover her daily transportation costs. He said the experience showed how some workers were finding it increasingly difficult to afford the cost of remaining employed.
He criticised the government’s economic performance, saying the promise of national renewal had not translated into affordable living costs and better opportunities for many Nigerians.
Atiku said his proposed Economic Recovery Plan would seek to ease the pressure through support linked to domestically refined fuel, increased local production, protection for minimum-wage earners, student assistance and reduced government waste.
He maintained that young Nigerians deserved answers about the Lekki shooting as well as an economy where employment could provide a decent standard of living.
Atiku also argued that citizens had the right to question the government over unresolved issues and limited economic opportunities. His comments place accountability for the 2020 incident alongside current concerns about inflation, transport costs and the ability of workers to meet basic needs.
