African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has renewed calls for accountability over the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate shooting, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to provide satisfactory answers six years after the incident.
Atiku also criticised the Federal Government’s economic policies, citing rising petrol prices, declining purchasing power and the increasing cost of living faced by Nigerians, particularly young people.
He made the remarks in a statement shared on his social media account on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to mark the sixth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests and the Lekki Toll Gate shooting.
The former vice president questioned who authorised the shooting of protesters, insisting that Nigerians deserved transparency and accountability over the incident.
“Six years after the Lekki shooting, Nigeria is still waiting for a clear answer to one devastating question: Who gave the order?” Atiku said.
He also recalled comments attributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in October 2020, arguing that the remarks appeared to focus on questioning protesters who suffered casualties rather than demanding accountability for the violence.
Atiku quoted Tinubu as asking: “How were they there? How long were they there? What kind of characters are they?”
According to the ADC chieftain, the continued demand for answers reflects the grief of affected families and the concerns of young Nigerians who participated in the protests to demand an end to police brutality and improved governance.
He argued that the APC, having governed Nigeria since the incident, should address the outstanding questions surrounding the tragedy.
Atiku also linked the anniversary to the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians, saying rising transport costs and other living expenses had made it increasingly difficult for young people to sustain themselves despite being employed.
To illustrate the pressure on workers, he cited the account of a young woman who reportedly resigned from her job because her salary could no longer cover her transportation expenses.
Quoting the woman, Atiku said: “The pay no longer covers transport. Everything in Nigeria just dey increase in price. Feels like I’m working for Bolt guys.”
He described the experience as an example of the financial strain facing workers, arguing that employment should provide a pathway to economic stability rather than leave people struggling to afford the cost of getting to work.
Atiku said his proposed Economic Recovery Plan would address some of these challenges through measures aimed at reducing living costs and expanding economic opportunities.
According to him, the proposals include linking consumer relief to locally refined fuel, increasing domestic production to create jobs, protecting minimum-wage earners, providing support for students and reducing government waste instead of imposing additional taxes.
He maintained that young Nigerians deserved both justice over the Lekki shooting and an economy in which employment could offer a realistic prospect of a better standard of living.
The #EndSARS protests began in October 2020, with young Nigerians demanding an end to police brutality and the reform of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The shooting at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, became one of the most contentious episodes of the protests and continues to generate calls for accountability.