By Damilola Adebowale
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a fierce critique against President Bola Tinubu following the administration’s announcement of a ₦66-per-litre petrol price reduction. Atiku declared that “Nigerians cannot cheer” for what he described as a superficial and non-transparent political gimmick designed to offer temporary optics rather than genuine economic relief.
Tripod Times reports that the controversy erupted after the federal government unveiled a 30-day intervention aimed at cutting fuel profit margins to ease the immediate burden on transportation fares. However, the policy has immediately drawn skepticism from opposition leaders, economic analysts, and organized labor unions, who argue that the brief relief window does nothing to fix the systemic decay undercutting the nation’s energy sector.
A “Publicity Stunt” Under Fire
In a strongly worded statement, Atiku questioned the legality and operational framework of the reduction. He accused the Tinubu administration of using the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as a tool for political public relations rather than a commercially viable entity.
“You cannot subject a nation to months of hyperinflation, soaring food prices, and prohibitive energy costs, only to offer a 30-day crumbs-off-the-table reduction and expect applause,” Atiku stated. “Nigerians cannot cheer for a policy that lacks institutional transparency and fails to address why our local refineries remain dormant while citizens suffer.”
Administration Defends the Cushion
In response, spokespersons for the presidency defended the initiative, framing it as an immediate and empathetic intervention to buffer citizens from severe transit costs. Government officials emphasized that the ₦66 discount was structured specifically as a short-term margin adjustment to provide immediate breathing room while broader, long-term energy reforms are stabilized.
Despite the administration’s defensive stance, petroleum marketers and distribution unions have raised logistical concerns regarding how the discount will be uniformly applied across independent filling stations, sparking fears of artificial scarcity and hoarding.
Systemic Economic Stress Lingers
The political back-and-forth unfolds against a backdrop of deep economic anxiety across Nigeria. Organized labor groups, while acknowledging any drop in fuel pricing, continue to press for structural solutions—including the sustainable local refining of crude oil—rather than short-term relief packages that expire in a month.
As the 30-day window ticks away, the Tinubu administration faces mounting pressure to deliver a transparent, permanent roadmap for energy affordability, or risk further alienating a public weary of temporary fixes.
This story was originally filed for the Tripod Times.
