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Former Vice President and PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks urging Nigerians to be grateful that fuel prices in the country are “better” than those in Kenya and other African nations, describing the comparison as tone-deaf and disconnected from the severe economic realities facing millions of citizens.
In a statement reacting to President Tinubu’s comments made during a visit to Bayelsa State, Atiku argued that comparing Nigeria’s fuel crisis to Kenya’s does little to alleviate the pain of ordinary Nigerians who are grappling with skyrocketing living costs following the abrupt removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.
President Tinubu had acknowledged that “the fuel price is biting hard” but urged Nigerians to “thank God together” that they are better off than citizens in Kenya and other African countries, adding that his administration would continue to find ways to ease the suffering of the vulnerable.
Atiku countered that such comparisons offer cold comfort to families struggling to afford basic necessities, as petrol prices in Nigeria have surged dramatically from around ₦185 per litre before May 2023 to well over ₦1,200 per litre in many parts of the country today. He noted that the hardship is compounded by galloping inflation, naira devaluation, and rising poverty levels recently highlighted in reports indicating that over 60% of Nigerians now live below the poverty line.
“The President’s attempt to console Nigerians by pointing to Kenya ignores the fact that life has become significantly harder for the average citizen under this administration,” Atiku said. “Nigerians are not interested in being told they are ‘better off’ than people in another country while their own purchasing power continues to erode daily. What matters is whether they are better off than they were three years ago and the honest answer is no.”
The former Vice President reiterated his long-standing position that economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, must be accompanied by robust safety nets, transparent implementation, and measures to cushion the most vulnerable segments of society. He accused the current administration of implementing harsh policies without adequate preparation or palliatives, leading to widespread suffering.
Atiku called on the Federal Government to focus on practical solutions such as boosting local refining capacity, promoting alternative energy sources like CNG, and implementing targeted interventions to reduce the cost of living, rather than engaging in comparative rhetoric that downplays domestic challenges.
He further urged President Tinubu to demonstrate genuine empathy and urgency in addressing the economic crisis, warning that continued insensitivity could deepen public disillusionment and undermine national stability.
“As a nation richly blessed with oil resources, Nigeria should not be benchmarking itself against the struggles of others but striving to deliver affordable energy and prosperity to its own people,” Atiku added.