Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is heading to the United States to engage key policy and institutional stakeholders over the country’s worsening insecurity, economic hardship and governance challenges.
Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, announced the trip in a statement on Sunday, saying it aims to draw international attention to the deepening crisis and the need for urgent institutional response.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate intends to highlight persistent violence across the North-West, North-East and parts of the Middle Belt, as well as rising cases of kidnapping and organised crime nationwide.
He also plans to address surging inflation, naira depreciation and declining purchasing power, which have pushed millions of Nigerians deeper into poverty, blaming these on policy inconsistency and lack of clear direction under the current administration.
On governance, Atiku is expected to raise concerns about eroding public trust in institutions and risks to electoral credibility ahead of future elections.
“Discussing the country’s condition abroad is not an act of disloyalty but a necessary step, given Nigeria’s strategic importance and global relevance,” Atiku said.
He urged the Federal Government to “urgently reset its priorities, rebuild public trust and adopt clearer strategies to tackle insecurity, economic decline and institutional fragility.”
Atiku further warned that “Nigeria is at a critical point” and must confront its growing challenges with urgency “or risk sliding deeper into instability.”
The trip comes amid widespread public discontent over the state of security and the economy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which has faced criticism for its reform policies and handling of banditry, insurgency and kidnapping.
