Atiku Abubakar Challenges Tinubu Over NNPC Petrol Discount

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President, has publicly criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration for allegedly using NNPC Limited as a political funding tool in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. In a statement released on Saturday, October 10, 2026, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned whether the decision to implement a petrol discount bypassed NNPC Limited's board.

He argued that the Petroleum Act mandates NNPC Limited to operate as a commercial entity, and ordering it to absorb a price cut without transparent board approval contradicts this mandate. Atiku also expressed concerns about the practicality of the discount reaching ordinary Nigerians, noting that NNPC Retail operates just over 900 filling stations across a population of approximately 242 million.

He demanded clarification on which account would absorb the cost of the discount and what financial figures the NNPC board reviewed prior to the policy announcement. Furthermore, Atiku accused President Tinubu of previously mocking his proposal for a targeted production subsidy, only to introduce a similar concept in a limited form.