The APC Prado donation to selected youth leaders has sparked public outrage, with Nigerians questioning the ruling party’s priorities amid persistent economic hardship.
The controversy followed a video shared by APC National Youth Leader Dayo Israel, showing seven brand-new 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs presented to selected youth leaders for grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu later confirmed that she donated the vehicles to the party’s national youth wing.
However, the announcement drew criticism from political figures and social media users who questioned the decision to provide luxury vehicles while many Nigerians struggle to afford food, medicines, rent and other basic necessities.
APC Prado Donation Draws Pat Utomi’s Criticism
Political economist Pat Utomi, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), questioned the contrast between the luxury vehicles and the financial difficulties facing Nigerian soldiers.
“Nigerian soldiers are being paid peanuts as salaries, yet an APC youth leader is flaunting SUVs worth billions of naira,” Utomi wrote on X.
In another post, he questioned whether the money spent on the vehicles could have purchased ambulances to improve emergency medical services.
His comments reflected broader concerns about political spending at a time when households face pressure from high living costs.
Critics also questioned the contrast between calls for Nigerians to endure economic reforms and the distribution of expensive vehicles to party loyalists.
Claims of More Than 20 SUVs Raise Questions
Social media commentator Seun Durojaiye alleged that more than 20 brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado SUVs had been distributed to APC youth leaders nationwide.
He estimated the value of each vehicle at ₦120 million, putting the alleged total cost above ₦2 billion.
Durojaiye questioned the reported spending against the struggles of families unable to afford food, medicines and decent housing.
“In a country where a parent cannot afford a common malaria drug costing ₦2,000 for their child,” he wrote.
However, Daily Trust reported that it had not independently verified Durojaiye’s claims about the number of vehicles distributed or whether public funds financed them.
The original video showed seven SUVs, while the First Lady confirmed donating vehicles to the party’s youth wing. The precise purchase price and detailed funding arrangements were not publicly disclosed in the report.
Nigerians Warn APC Over Political Fallout
Other commentators argued that the vehicle presentation could damage the APC’s public image ahead of the 2027 elections.
An X user identified as A. Adebanji, posting as @prinxe_B, described the move as “peak (of) insensitivity”.
He warned that the controversy could give opposition parties fresh material to challenge the APC and President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“At a time when Nigerians are struggling with the effects of reforms, you chose to flaunt SUVs for youth leaders. What exactly is the public supposed to make of this?” he asked.
Adebanji argued that the display could weaken the government’s efforts to persuade citizens to accept the sacrifices associated with its economic policies.
“You cannot preach sacrifice to the people while flaunting privilege in their faces,” he wrote.
Another commentator, Sammy Desh, criticised Israel’s handling of the situation but distinguished the controversy from the wider position of the Federal Government and APC leadership.
“This isn’t what the APC or President Tinubu stands for,” he wrote.
Prince Adeshina also described the youth leader as a potential political liability to the ruling party.
Economic Hardship Fuels Debate Over APC Prado Donation
The APC Prado donation has drawn particular attention because many households continue to face high food prices and rising living expenses, despite improvements in some economic indicators.
According to figures cited in the report, Nigeria’s headline inflation rate fell to 14.63 per cent in September 2026 from 15.39 per cent in August. However, food inflation edged up to 19.59 per cent from 19.57 per cent.
A lower annual inflation rate means prices are rising more slowly. It does not mean that prices have returned to previous levels or that household purchasing power has recovered.
For low-income families, food costs remain a major concern because they spend a large share of their earnings on feeding.
This gap between improving economic indicators and everyday financial pressures has intensified criticism of the luxury vehicle donation.
World Bank Notes Economic Growth but Calls for Better Living Standards
The report also cited the World Bank’s October 2026 Nigeria Development Update, which put economic growth at 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, up from 3.9 per cent during the same period in 2025.
The bank attributed the expansion to contributions from sectors including services and agriculture. It also reported signs of stabilisation in poverty levels, while stressing the need for stronger job creation, better public services and improved living standards.
Reforms introduced since 2023, including petrol subsidy removal, foreign-exchange market changes and improved revenue administration, have helped strengthen public finances.
The World Bank said gross federation revenues rose by 69 per cent in real terms between 2023 and 2025. State governments used additional resources to increase capital spending, particularly on transport, agriculture, energy and housing.
However, the bank stressed the importance of improving public expenditure accountability and ensuring that economic gains benefit ordinary citizens.
President Tinubu welcomed the report, describing its findings as evidence that the reforms were working. He acknowledged that more needed to be done to reduce food prices, create decent jobs and improve living conditions.
The administration has also pointed to targeted cash transfers and plans to improve agricultural productivity and access to healthcare and education as part of its response to hardship.
Fuel Measures Add to Debate Over Government Priorities
In another effort to ease pressure on household budgets, the Federal Government announced in October that the retail arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited would temporarily forgo its petrol profit margin and sell fuel at cost for 30 days.
The measure aimed to cushion consumers against rising global oil prices.
The administration has argued that restoring a blanket petrol subsidy would recreate fiscal pressures and market distortions associated with the previous system. It has instead backed targeted assistance and investment in infrastructure and economic opportunities.
Opposition figures, however, continue to question when the benefits of the reforms will become more visible in people’s daily lives.
Against this backdrop, the APC Prado donation has intensified questions about political priorities, public accountability and the contrast between luxury spending and the economic pressures facing ordinary Nigerians as the country approaches another general election.