Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s proposed 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) retail stations, describing it as a temporary measure that fails to address the country’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, made his position known in a statement issued on Thursday, October 8, 2026, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council. He accused the Tinubu administration of introducing the intervention for political reasons ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Federal Government had announced the 30-day discount as part of measures to ease the impact of rising petrol prices, with priority given to public transport operators. Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele said the arrangement would allow NNPC Retail to sell petrol at cost by temporarily forgoing its retail profit margin, stressing that it was not a return to the fuel subsidy regime.
Reacting to the announcement, Atiku described the initiative as a “political bandage” that would provide only temporary relief. He questioned what would happen after the 30-day period expires, arguing that Nigerians would still face high fuel prices, transportation fares and food costs.
The former vice president also questioned why the discount was limited to NNPC stations and criticised the government for failing to disclose how much consumers would save per litre. He further asked how the authorities would ensure that transport operators pass any savings on to passengers through reduced fares.
Atiku argued that the intervention demonstrated the possibility of providing support tied to locally refined petroleum products, a proposal he said he had previously advocated. He called for a capped and budgeted production-support framework with safeguards to benefit consumers while encouraging domestic refining.
“Nigerians need lasting relief, not a countdown to the return of hardship,” Atiku said, urging the Federal Government to adopt measures that would provide sustained relief rather than temporary reductions in fuel costs.
