Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day petrol discount at NNPC stations, describing the measure as a temporary intervention that fails to address the long-term economic hardship facing Nigerians.
Atiku’s position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday, October 8, 2026, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
The former Vice President accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of introducing the discount as a political response to growing public hardship, arguing that a one-month reduction in petrol costs would not resolve the broader cost-of-living crisis.
Atiku said the government’s decision to introduce the temporary measure after years of high fuel prices amounted to an attempt to offer short-term relief without addressing the underlying problems.
“Atiku totally rejects this calendar-scheduled, election-laced subsidy package. Nigerians are not fools to be offered a month of discounted fuel after years of punishing prices and then expected to forget the hardship when the discount expires,” he said.
He questioned what would happen after the 30-day period, arguing that Nigerians would still face high petrol prices, transportation costs and rising food prices once the intervention ends.
“What happens on Day 31? Nigerians wake up to the same brutal prices, the same punishing transport fares and the same rising cost of food,” Atiku said.
He also raised concerns about the scope of the programme, noting that the discount is limited to NNPC stations. He questioned how much motorists would actually save per litre and whether transport operators would pass any reduction in fuel costs to passengers through lower fares.
According to Atiku, the government’s latest intervention also demonstrates that alternative measures to reduce fuel costs are possible.
“This volte-face proves that the production-support proposal I have advanced is workable, achievable and not complicated,” he said.
Atiku reiterated his proposal for capped and budgeted production support tied to petrol refined domestically, with safeguards to ensure that consumers benefit while local refining is supported.
He argued that Nigerians require a sustainable reduction in the cost of living rather than temporary relief that expires after 30 days.
“Nigerians need lasting relief, not a countdown to the return of hardship. Tinubu’s government cannot spend years telling Nigerians to endure, then offer 30 days of relief and call it a solution,” he said.
The former Vice President restated his commitment to reducing the cost of living, declaring: “Tinubu made life expensive. I will make life affordable again.”
The statement was signed by Shaibu on behalf of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
