Atiku Abubakar Critiques Tinubu's Fuel Subsidy Policies

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar reiterated his proposal to restore a targeted petrol subsidy, criticizing President Bola Tinubu for what he described as contradictory economic policies that remove support from poor Nigerians while providing incentives to major petroleum investors. In a statement from his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku labeled the government's claim of abolishing the petrol subsidy as a significant economic fraud.

He argued that the Tinubu administration had shifted the economic burden onto households while offering fiscal support to oil investors. Atiku pointed out that after the subsidy removal, petrol prices surged, leading to increased transportation and food costs, which he attributed to the government's economic reforms.

He also questioned the rationale behind providing fiscal incentives to petroleum investors while rejecting targeted interventions for households. Atiku cited NNPC's financial records, indicating that energy-security expenses reached approximately N4.84 trillion in 2023 and about N7.13 trillion in 2024, suggesting ongoing government intervention in the petroleum sector despite claims of subsidy removal.