Tinubu says Nigeria is safer and richer. Opposition: “Prove it.”

Abuja — President Bola Tinubu told Catholic bishops on Tuesday that security and the economy are improving. By Wednesday, opposition parties publicly rejected that claim, demanding evidence and accusing his administration of ignoring the country’s real crises. The president’s remarks, delivered during a closed-door meeting with the bishops, were meant to project confidence. Instead, they triggered immediate pushback. Opposition leaders challenged the government’s data, pointing to persistent kidnappings, farmer-herder clashes, and rising food prices as signs that daily life has not improved for most Nigerians. “The administration’s own reports contradict its public statements,” one opposition spokesman said. “We need action, not reassurance.” Tinubu’s team has not yet issued a formal response to the criticism. But the exchange highlights a growing gap between the government’s narrative and public experience—one that could shape political debates ahead of the next election cycle. For now, the bishops have not commented further. The opposition says it will release its own security and economic assessment next week.