Fuel subsidy: For three years, Nigerians have been told to endure – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Tinubu administration of applying double standards in its approach to government intervention in the economy, arguing that support for domestic fuel production should not be treated differently from tax waivers and incentives granted to businesses.

Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Friday, September 11, 2026, said his proposed production subsidy was intended to reduce the cost of locally refined petrol and provide relief to consumers while keeping Nigerian refineries commercially viable.

He criticised the Federal Government for opposing subsidy intervention while providing other forms of economic incentives to businesses.

“Intervention is acceptable when the government gives waivers and concessions to powerful interests, but it suddenly becomes dangerous when the objective is to reduce the cost of fuel, transport and food for ordinary Nigerians?” Atiku asked.

“That is not an economic principle. That is selective compassion.”

Atiku argued that the removal of petrol subsidy had contributed to rising living costs and placed pressure on households, transport operators and businesses.

“For three years, Nigerians have been told to endure,” he said. “Fuel rises, they say endure. Transport rises, endure. Food rises, endure. Businesses are crushed by energy costs, endure.”

He said his proposed production subsidy would differ fundamentally from the previous import-focused subsidy system because government support would be tied to crude processed by Nigerian refineries.

“If you do not refine in Nigeria, you do not qualify,” Atiku said, stressing that the proposal was not intended to subsidise foreign refineries, fuel importers or middlemen.

“This is not a subsidy for foreign refineries. It is not a subsidy for importers. It is not a subsidy for middlemen. It is a subsidy for Nigerian production,” he said.

The former vice-president also addressed concerns raised by Dangote Refinery over pump-price controls, saying his proposal would not require the refinery or other domestic producers to sell below cost.

He said any additional consumer relief beyond savings generated from cheaper crude feedstock should be explicitly funded by the government rather than imposed on private refiners.

“You cannot announce a politically convenient petrol price and quietly dump the cost on the refinery. That is not policy. That is confiscation by another name,” Atiku said.

He said the proposed scheme would have safeguards, including a hard fiscal ceiling, a maximum support level per barrel, independent verification, electronic monitoring, transparent pricing and penalties for fraud or diversion.

Atiku further accused the Tinubu administration of presenting economic hardship as evidence that its reforms were working.

“Every new hardship is presented as proof that reform is working,” he said.

He challenged the Presidency to debate the proposal on its merits, insisting that Nigeria could simultaneously protect refinery investments and make petrol more affordable.

“Our proposal is clear: support domestic production, reduce the cost of crude going into Nigerian refineries, protect legitimate refinery margins and ensure that lower production costs translate into lower costs for Nigerians,” he said.