“Nigerians Need Affordable Fuel, Not ₦66 They Must Queue to Collect” — Atiku Tackles Tinubu

According to a report by Daily Sun on Saturday, October 10, 2026, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over its recently announced fuel discount, arguing that the initiative does not provide adequate relief for Nigerians struggling with petrol prices.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, accused the Federal Government of presenting the discount as an achievement without explaining how the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) would bear the financial cost.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned whether the NNPCL board approved the arrangement and what financial implications it would have for the company.

He argued that NNPCL operates as a commercial entity under the Petroleum Industry Act and should not be expected to surrender its profit margin without proper corporate procedures and transparency.

Atiku also questioned how accessible the discount would be to motorists across the country, given the limited number of participating filling stations and the possibility of queues.

He noted that NNPC Retail operates just over 900 stations in a country with an estimated population of 242 million people, raising concerns about whether the arrangement could deliver nationwide relief.

“Nigerians need fuel made affordable across the country, not ₦66 they must queue to collect,” Atiku said.

The former vice president questioned whether motorists would save enough to justify travelling to designated stations, waiting in queues and using an application to access the discount. He also raised concerns about consumers whose nearest participating station might be far from their communities or run out of fuel.

Atiku further challenged the government’s position that the initiative was not a fuel subsidy, arguing that describing a cost differently would not eliminate the financial burden associated with it.

He accused the administration of applying market principles when Nigerians demanded lower petrol prices but adopting a different approach when seeking public approval for its policies.

The ADC candidate also recalled his proposal for a transparent production subsidy, alleging that the government had adopted elements of his approach while limiting the relief to a 30-day discount available at selected stations.

He maintained that Nigerians needed a sustainable and accessible reduction in fuel costs rather than a temporary arrangement that could exclude many motorists.

Atiku called for greater transparency regarding the discount, including disclosure of the approval process, the financial implications for NNPCL and the mechanism through which the initiative would benefit consumers.

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