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<p>By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa</p><div class="sWNV3YOl" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over its 30-day petrol discount initiative, describing the measure as a temporary palliative that would not provide lasting relief to Nigerians grappling with rising living costs.</p>
<p>Atiku, in a statement, accused the Federal Government of introducing the discount as an election-season gesture after more than three years of economic hardship, questioning what would happen when the 30-day period expires.</p>
<p>The former vice-president said the government’s decision to offer a â¦50 discount on petrol at Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) stations amounted to a temporary intervention rather than a comprehensive solution to the country’s economic challenges.</p><div class="r2ZaCI0r" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>“What happens on day 31?” Atiku asked, arguing that Nigerians required sustainable policies capable of reducing fuel costs and easing the burden of transportation, food and other essential commodities.</p>
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<p>Atiku said the rising cost of living had continued to affect households, businesses and farmers, accusing the Tinubu administration of implementing economic reforms without providing adequate protection for citizens struggling with their consequences.</p>
<p>He said Nigerians had endured higher food prices, increased transportation costs, rising business expenses and growing insecurity, adding that the government should not expect a short-term petrol discount to compensate for the prolonged economic difficulties experienced by citizens.</p>
<p>According to him, the administration had spent more than three years asking Nigerians to endure economic sacrifices, while the cost of essential goods and services continued to rise.</p>
<p>The former vice-president also accused Tinubu of introducing the petrol discount only after his administration had dismissed similar proposals for targeted support to reduce the burden of fuel costs.</p>
<p>Atiku said he had previously advocated targeted assistance to ease the impact of petrol prices but was criticised by the government for what it described as a lack of understanding of economic policy.</p>
<p>He argued that the government&#8217;s latest initiative had effectively adopted the principle behind his proposal, although he maintained that the administration had failed to implement it in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.</p>
<p>“When I proposed targeted support to ease fuel costs, you called me ignorant of economic policy. Your government said it could not be done. Now, in a desperate and clumsy retreat, you have shamelessly embraced the principle you mocked,” Atiku said.</p>
<p>He demanded an apology from the president but stressed that his greater concern was the need for the government to explain how Nigerians would be protected from rising fuel costs after the discount period ended.</p>
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<p>Atiku distinguished his proposed production subsidy from the government&#8217;s 30-day discount, describing his approach as a long-term intervention designed to support local refining and reduce the cost of fuel.</p>
<p>He argued that a properly structured production subsidy could help lower domestic fuel production costs while providing more durable relief to consumers.</p>
<p>According to him, the government&#8217;s temporary discount lacked the policy framework required to guarantee stable transportation fares, predictable operating costs for businesses and affordable living conditions for households.</p>
<p>“Atiku described Tinubu&#8217;s 30-day discount as a ‘sugar rush masquerading as economic policy,’ arguing that the temporary reduction in petrol prices would be followed by renewed hardship once the initiative expired.</p>
<p>“Families cannot plan their meals around a temporary discount. Transporters cannot set stable fares on it. Businesses cannot invest or plan for the future on it,” he said.</p>
<p>The former presidential candidate maintained that Nigerians needed a sustainable economic relief programme rather than a short-term reduction in petrol prices that could offer only limited respite.</p>
<p>He also accused the president and his economic team of failing to adequately consider alternative policy proposals aimed at reducing the hardship associated with the government&#8217;s economic reforms.</p>
<p>Atiku said that during his State of the Nation address on September 18, 2026, he had offered to share his economic relief plan with Tinubu in the national interest.</p>
<p>He expressed disappointment that the president had not accepted the offer, alleging that the government had instead introduced a limited intervention that failed to address the underlying problems.</p>
<p>According to Atiku, the administration&#8217;s decision reflected what he described as intellectual laziness and an unwillingness to acknowledge alternative approaches to economic management.</p>
<p>He further accused the government of seeking public approval for a temporary discount after presiding over years of rising living costs.</p>
<p>“Now you offer a â¦50 petrol discount for 30 days and expect applause for returning a fraction of what Nigerians have lost?” he asked.</p>
<p>Atiku said the government should be judged by the overall impact of its economic policies rather than by the announcement of temporary relief measures.</p>
<p>He added that Nigerians were capable of distinguishing between a government pursuing a comprehensive economic strategy and one introducing short-term interventions to manage public dissatisfaction.</p>
<p>The former vice-president also questioned the practical implementation of the discount, particularly the government&#8217;s plan to prioritise public transport operators.</p>
<p>He asked whether the initiative would translate into lower transportation fares for passengers and what mechanisms the government would establish to ensure that transport operators passed the savings on to commuters.</p>
<p>“Do not hide behind the word ‘discount.’ You say public transport operators come first. Will fares fall? Who will enforce that?” Atiku asked.</p>
<p>He maintained that without clear enforcement measures and a sustainable policy framework, the initiative might fail to deliver meaningful benefits to ordinary Nigerians.</p>
<p>Atiku urged the administration to adopt a lasting economic relief strategy focused on reducing fuel costs, supporting local refining and easing the pressure on households and businesses.</p>
<p>He said Nigerians had endured significant economic difficulties and deserved policies that would provide predictable and sustained improvements in their living conditions rather than temporary relief measures.</p>
<p>The former vice-president says the public would ultimately judge the Tinubu administration by its ability to address the country&#8217;s economic challenges and improve the welfare of citizens.</p>
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