Tinubu's Aide Challenges Atiku on Petrol Subsidy Claims

President Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over contradictory statements regarding petrol subsidy made within a week. Onanuga's statement, dated August 26, 2026, questioned whether Atiku was proposing a genuine economic policy or merely using fuel prices for political gain ahead of the 2027 elections.

The controversy began when Atiku's spokesperson, Paul Ibe, announced plans to restore petrol subsidy temporarily, which was later contradicted by another aide, Phrank Shaibu, who stated that no exit date would be set for the subsidy. Atiku confirmed his stance on restoring a "targeted subsidy." Onanuga argued that fuel prices are influenced by various factors beyond government control and challenged Atiku's claims linking fuel prices to food inflation.

He raised technical questions about crude oil processing and urged Atiku to clarify the subsidy’s cost, beneficiaries, funding, and conditions for its termination.