Nigerian Presidency Accuses Atiku Abubakar of Petrol Subsidy Incoherence

The Presidency of Nigeria accused former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of policy incoherence and political posturing regarding the restoration of petrol subsidies. In a statement released Wednesday, the administration highlighted three contradictory positions presented by Abubakar and his team within a single week.

The conflict began when spokesperson Paul Ibe proposed restoring the subsidy before phasing it out, a claim later contradicted by aide Phrank Shaibu, who argued the subsidy should remain until market conditions stabilized. Abubakar subsequently reaffirmed his support for a targeted subsidy to increase the purchasing power of Nigerians.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, challenged Abubakar to provide specific details regarding the funding, cost, and intended beneficiaries of the proposal. The administration also rejected Abubakar's assertion that petrol prices are the primary driver of food inflation, instead attributing the rise in costs to exchange rates and insecurity. Furthermore, the Presidency questioned the viability of linking subsidies to crude oil prices, noting that refining processes yield multiple petroleum products beyond petrol.