Peter Obi has publicly criticized the Federal Government’s economic management, challenging the World Bank’s recent upward revision of Nigeria’s 2026 GDP growth forecast to 4.3%. Obi argued that macroeconomic indicators—such as GDP growth and rising government revenue—fail to reflect the lived reality of Nigerians suffering from high poverty, unemployment, and inflation.

Highlighting concerns over fiscal sustainability, Obi pointed to World Bank data showing that Nigeria spent N7.7 trillion on debt interest payments in the first half of 2026, surpassing the N6.2 trillion total revenue generated during the same period. He noted that interest payments exceeded revenue by 124.2% and lamented a decline in capital expenditure, asserting that the current debt crisis undermines claims of economic progress. Obi urged the administration to prioritize policies that deliver tangible improvements in household welfare rather than relying on favorable statistics.