NIGERIA: Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) stations, describing it as a politically motivated, short-term measure that would do little to address the persistent high cost of living.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of offering temporary relief after years of rising fuel prices and economic hardship, arguing that Nigerians needed lasting solutions rather than a one-month discount.
The former vice-president’s position was contained in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, reports Daily Trust.
Atiku described the initiative as a desperate attempt to ease public anger over the cost-of-living crisis, alleging that the government had failed to provide adequate relief to households and businesses struggling with high fuel prices and transportation costs.
“Now, as the election draws closer, President Tinubu is dangling a temporary discount at the very epicentre of the cost-of-living crisis that has tormented households and businesses,” he said.
Rejecting the proposed intervention, Atiku described it as an election-related measure that could temporarily ease the burden on some consumers without addressing the underlying economic challenges.
“Atiku totally rejects this calendar-scheduled, election-laced subsidy package. Nigerians are not fools to be offered a month of discounted fuel after years of punishing prices and then expected to forget the hardship when the discount expires. This is shameless and heartless,” he said.
‘What Happens on Day 31?’
The ADC presidential candidate questioned the sustainability of the initiative, asking what would happen when the 30-day discount expires and consumers are once again confronted with prevailing fuel prices and transportation costs.
“What happens on Day 31? Nigerians wake up to the same brutal prices, the same punishing transport fares and the same rising cost of food. The government cannot manufacture relief for one month and expect Nigerians to applaud while the hardship remains,” he said.
Atiku also raised concerns about the scope and implementation of the proposed discount, noting that the announcement covered petrol dispensed by NNPC but did not specify how much consumers would save per litre.
He further questioned whether the government would ensure that public transport operators benefiting from the initiative passed the savings on to passengers through reduced fares.
The former vice-president argued that without clear implementation details and safeguards, the measure might not translate into substantial relief for ordinary Nigerians.
Atiku Revives Production-Support Proposal
Atiku also accused the Tinubu administration of contradicting its previous position on fuel-price relief, arguing that the proposed intervention demonstrated that measures to cushion the impact of high petrol prices were possible.
He maintained that the government’s decision to introduce the temporary discount amounted to an acknowledgement of the hardship Nigerians had endured.
“This volte-face proves that the production-support proposal I have advanced is workable, achievable and not complicated. The Tinubu government and its spin doctors have tried to make it sound impossible, yet they are now reaching for a temporary subsidy-style intervention because the pain has become impossible to ignore,” Atiku said.
He reiterated his proposal for capped and budgeted production support tied to fuel refined in Nigeria, with safeguards intended to ensure that the benefits reach consumers while supporting domestic refining.
According to him, such an arrangement would offer a more sustainable approach to reducing the burden of fuel costs than a temporary discount with a fixed expiration date.
“Nigerians need lasting relief, not a countdown to the return of hardship. Tinubu’s government cannot spend years telling Nigerians to endure, then offer 30 days of relief and call it a solution,” he said.
Atiku reaffirmed his commitment to reducing the cost of living, concluding with a political message directed at Nigerians grappling with rising household expenses.
“Tinubu made life expensive. I will make life affordable again,” he said.
