Former Nigerian Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of copying his proposal for a targeted fuel subsidy while reducing it to a temporary 30 day petrol discount that he says will fail to provide lasting relief for millions of Nigerians struggling with rising living costs. Atiku made the accusation on Friday, October 9, 2026, during the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, where he criticised the Federal Government’s latest intervention in petrol prices and questioned whether the measure would significantly reduce transportation fares, food prices and operating costs for businesses.
The controversy follows the government’s announcement that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) would temporarily sell petrol at cost through its retail outlets, with priority given to public transport operators. The arrangement is intended to cushion the effects of rising global oil prices without restoring the fuel subsidy system abolished in 2023. Atiku, however, argued that the decision amounts to an admission that government intervention is necessary to stabilise petrol prices, an approach he said the Tinubu administration had previously rejected when he proposed financial support for petroleum products refined within Nigeria.
Addressing the President directly, Atiku said, “Bola, you have borrowed the idea but missed the lesson.” He compared Tinubu to a student who copied another student’s examination answers without understanding the solution, accusing the President of adopting the principle behind his proposal while ignoring the provisions intended to make it sustainable. The former Vice President demanded an apology and questioned what would happen after the government’s temporary discount expired. According to him, a short period of cheaper petrol would provide little certainty for households, transport operators and businesses already struggling with daily expenses.
Atiku’s proposed alternative involves a capped production subsidy exclusively for petroleum products refined in Nigeria, including products from modular refineries. Under the proposal, imported petrol would not qualify for government support. He said the subsidy would be included in the national budget, with costs and payments publicly disclosed and independently audited to prevent abuse. The objective, according to Atiku, is to encourage domestic refining, reduce dependence on imported fuel and ensure that government assistance produces measurable reductions in pump prices. He first outlined the proposal as part of his broader economic programme during his October 1 Independence Day address, arguing that government intervention should be targeted, transparent and financially sustainable rather than an open-ended subsidy covering all petrol consumption.
The Tinubu administration has maintained that its latest intervention is different from the subsidy system removed when the President assumed office on May 29, 2023. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele explained that the 30 day arrangement would allow NNPC Retail to forgo its profit margin and sell petrol at cost. The government has also proposed a petrol price ceiling of approximately N1,350 per litre to limit sudden fluctuations in global energy prices. Other measures include accelerating the deployment of compressed natural gas vehicles, expanding financial support for vulnerable households, providing subsidised credit to small businesses and exploring the establishment of a national strategic fuel reserve. Officials say these measures are designed to stabilise prices while preserving the market reforms introduced under the administration.
Fuel subsidy removal remains one of the most significant and controversial economic decisions of Tinubu’s presidency. When the government abolished the subsidy in May 2023, it argued that the programme had become financially unsustainable, consumed resources needed for infrastructure and public services, and encouraged smuggling and corruption within the petroleum sector. However, the decision was followed by sharp increases in petrol prices, contributing to higher transportation fares, rising food costs and increased operating expenses for businesses. Many households were forced to adjust their spending as the cost of commuting, electricity generation and essential commodities increased. The latest volatility in international oil prices, partly influenced by tensions in the Middle East, has renewed concerns about fuel affordability and intensified calls for measures that would protect consumers from further economic pressure.
The disagreement between Atiku and Tinubu also follows an earlier exchange over the legality and financial implications of the ADC candidate’s proposal. In September, the Presidency challenged Atiku to explain how his planned production subsidy would comply with the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, which provides for market based pricing of petroleum products. The administration questioned how financial assistance to domestic refiners would guarantee cheaper petrol for consumers and demanded details about the estimated costs, funding arrangements and safeguards against abuse. It also warned that such a programme could impose substantial financial obligations on the government and potentially affect revenue available to federal, state and local authorities. Atiku’s running mate, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, subsequently said an ADC administration would seek amendments to existing petroleum legislation if necessary to establish a legal framework for its proposed subsidy.
The controversy has taken on wider political significance as preparations continue for Nigeria’s 2027 general election. Atiku has made economic hardship, unemployment and the rising cost of living central issues in his campaign, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress administration of failing to protect Nigerians from the consequences of its economic policies. During the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, urged members to present Nigerians with a credible alternative focused on security, employment, education, healthcare and economic development. The campaign council’s Director-General, Senator Austin Akobundu, also outlined proposals covering electricity reform, agricultural security, financial support for entrepreneurs, student loans and local government autonomy. The Tinubu administration, meanwhile, continues to defend its economic reforms, maintaining that returning to the previous blanket subsidy arrangement would recreate the financial pressures and inefficiencies associated with the old system.
For ordinary Nigerians, the disagreement raises a more immediate concern about whether the announced measures will genuinely reduce everyday expenses. Commercial drivers depend heavily on petrol, while traders, farmers and small businesses must account for fuel costs when transporting goods or operating generators. Although cheaper petrol could reduce some of these expenses, it does not automatically guarantee lower transport fares or food prices, particularly when businesses are also affected by electricity costs, inflation and other operating expenses. The government’s temporary discount would also need to reach enough consumers to have a noticeable impact, while Atiku’s proposed production subsidy would require effective monitoring to ensure that financial assistance given to refiners is reflected in retail prices. Without clear implementation and accountability, either approach could struggle to deliver the relief Nigerians expect.
As the political dispute continues, attention will increasingly turn to the implementation of the government’s 30 day petrol discount, the availability of cheaper fuel at participating NNPC stations and whether commercial transport operators pass any savings on to passengers. Questions also remain about what happens when the temporary intervention expires and whether additional measures will be introduced to prevent another increase in fuel prices. Atiku has challenged the administration to provide a lasting solution, while the government maintains that its intervention forms part of a broader strategy to stabilise the economy without reversing its petroleum sector reforms. With fuel prices continuing to influence transportation, food distribution and household spending across Nigeria, the debate is likely to remain a prominent issue in the developing 2027 presidential campaign. For millions of Nigerians facing difficult economic conditions, the most pressing question is whether either approach will translate into affordable fuel and meaningful relief from the rising cost of living.
