Atiku Critiques Tinubu's Late Transport Fare Initiative

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar rejected President Bola Tinubu's recent commitment to collaborate with state governors to lower public transport fares, stating that the initiative is too late and motivated by electoral pressure. In a statement released on August 28, 2026, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku criticized the government's claim that only 120,000 vehicles have been converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) over three years, which he noted is less than one percent of Nigeria's estimated 14 million vehicles.

He argued that while CNG could be beneficial, it does not address the purchasing-power crisis, as lower bus fares are meaningless if passengers cannot afford them. Atiku's camp accused the government of ignoring calls for relief for over three years, only to announce transport-cost interventions as the 2027 elections approach.

He advocated for a targeted fuel subsidy linked to domestic production, emphasizing transparency and benefits for ordinary Nigerians.