Presidency, Atiku bicker over subsidy removal
Atiku Accuses Tinubu Administration of Deception Over Fuel Subsidy
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has claimed that attempts by President Bola Tinubu and his administration to oppose his proposal for reinstating a fuel subsidy will not be effective. Atiku’s remarks come amid growing tensions over economic transparency and the management of fuel prices in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Sunday, Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of misrepresenting the removal of the fuel subsidy as a reform while allegedly offering financial incentives to oil investors. He asserted that the government’s actions contradict its claims that the subsidy system has ended.
The presidency responded swiftly, criticizing Atiku for what it termed “politicizing Nigeria’s economy” while suggesting that his current position on the subsidy differs sharply from his stance during the 2023 presidential campaign, where he advocated for its removal.
According to Atiku, the government’s assertion of having abolished the fuel subsidy is inconsistent with financial data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). He highlighted discrepancies in the company’s reports, noting that NNPCL recorded roughly 4.84 trillion Naira in energy-security expenses in 2023 and approximately 7.13 trillion Naira in 2024, which he argued illustrate ongoing subsidies.
“Government continues to absorb the price difference after the announcement that subsidies were eliminated,” Atiku stated. He emphasized that regardless of terminology—whether it be ‘subsidy,’ ‘under-recovery,’ or ‘shortfall’—public funds are being utilized to cover the price gap for petrol.
Atiku also criticized the government’s differing treatment of corporations compared to ordinary citizens. “While the government protects oil investments, it neglects to provide relief to Nigerian workers struggling with economic hardship,” he added.
In response, Sunday Dare, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, characterized Atiku’s reversal on the subsidy issue as a display of political opportunism. He accused Atiku of abandoning his previous calls for subsidy removal, which he had deemed essential for economic reform leading up to the 2023 elections.
Dare described Atiku’s current stance as a “tactical policy disagreement,” asserting it reflects a desperate ambition rather than a genuine concern for the public. He pointed to Atiku’s past statements that deemed the subsidy system opaque and corrupt, arguing that Atiku’s recent proposal contradicts his former economic philosophy.
As the political landscape evolves and the next electoral cycle approaches, these exchanges indicate ongoing divisions in Nigeria’s approach to economic policy and governance.
