Atiku Abubakar Slams Tinubu Over Petrol Price Hikes

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar criticized President Bola Tinubu's administration over rising petrol prices and the broader cost-of-living crisis. In a statement released Tuesday, Abubakar questioned why Nigerians pay between N1,310 and N1,345 per litre in Abuja and surrounding areas while citizens in other oil-producing nations, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Angola, Kuwait, and Algeria, pay significantly less.

Abubakar characterized the current economic state as an "affordability scandal," arguing that government statistics on economic reforms have not translated into tangible improvements for households. He demanded transparency regarding N34 trillion in Import Duty Exemption Certificates and a reconciliation of nearly N30 trillion in Federation Account entries. The recent price spikes were driven by increases from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, MRS, Ranoil, and a N65 per litre gantry price increase by the Dangote Refinery.

Responding to President Tinubu's criticisms of his proposed economic policies, Abubakar's spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, asserted that the president's primary challenge is the suffering of millions of Nigerians rather than political opposition. Shaibu claimed that the president was attacking Abubakar because he chose to stand with those being crushed by the economic crisis.