Tinubu wants Nigerians to cheer for N66 off a litre’ – Atiku

According to a report by Daily Post on Sunday, October 11, 2026, Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of seeking political credit for a ₦66-per-litre petrol discount introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), questioning who authorised the arrangement and who would bear its financial cost.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), argued that the initiative could be used to win public approval without adequate transparency about its implications for the national oil company.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the former vice-president challenged the Federal Government to explain whether NNPC’s board approved the discount before it was announced.

“Tinubu wants Nigerians to cheer for ₦66 off a litre before they ask who ordered NNPC to surrender the money,” Atiku said.

He accused the President of seeking praise for the temporary reduction without explaining the cost, the approval process or how the revenue forgone would be reflected in the company’s accounts.

Atiku maintained that NNPC Limited operates as a commercial entity under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and should not be used to finance government publicity or political objectives without proper accountability.

He questioned whether the discount complied with the company’s corporate procedures and demanded details of the financial assessment that informed the decision.

The former vice-president also asked the government to clarify whether NNPC’s board formally approved the arrangement and identify the account that would bear the cost of the price reduction.

His criticism comes amid growing public concern over petrol prices and the rising cost of transportation, food and other essential goods.

The Federal Government has defended the discount as a temporary measure intended to ease the burden of high fuel prices on households and businesses. However, Atiku argued that the initiative was insufficient to address the wider economic pressures facing Nigerians.

Atiku also questioned how widely the discount would benefit Nigerians, noting that NNPC Retail operates just over 900 filling stations in a country with a population estimated at about 242 million.

He argued that the limited reach of the outlets could prevent many motorists from enjoying the advertised savings, particularly those who live far from participating stations.

According to him, some customers might incur additional transportation costs travelling to NNPC stations, spend time waiting in queues or face difficulties using the mobile application required to access the discount.

These factors, he said, could reduce the practical benefits of the initiative, making the advertised reduction less meaningful for some consumers.

Atiku further accused the Tinubu administration of applying market principles inconsistently, arguing that the government invokes market forces when Nigerians demand lower petrol prices but introduces temporary discounts when it seeks public approval.

“Tinubu’s government invokes market forces when Nigerians demand lower petrol prices, yet turns to discounts when the President wants public applause,” he said.

He maintained that Nigerians deserved a more comprehensive response to rising living costs rather than a short-term intervention that leaves the underlying economic challenges unresolved.

The controversy follows the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol discount scheme at NNPC retail stations, with priority reportedly given to public transport operators.

Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the arrangement was designed to provide relief by allowing NNPC Retail to forgo its petrol retail profit margin and sell the product at cost.

The government has insisted that the initiative does not represent a return to the fuel subsidy regime abolished in May 2023.

In a statement issued on October 9, NNPC confirmed that its ₦66-per-litre discount, initially introduced as an Independence Day promotion on October 1, had been extended until October 31, 2026.

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