President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his reported promise to restore fuel subsidies if elected president, describing the proposal as evidence of a lack of understanding of governance and economics.
Mr Tinubu said one of his political opponents had recently spoken about returning to the subsidy regime, arguing that such a policy would undermine the economic reforms his administration has introduced.
“I saw one of my opponents, Atiku, now saying he would go back to subsidies. That is a demonstration of serious ignorance in governance and economy,” Mr Tinubu said.
The president’s remarks come amid continued political debate over the removal of Nigeria’s petrol subsidy, a policy his administration announced shortly after taking office in May 2023.
The subsidy removal triggered a sharp rise in petrol prices and contributed to increased living costs, although the government has maintained that ending the scheme was necessary to reduce the financial burden on the state and redirect public resources towards development.
Atiku, a former vice-president and a leading opposition figure, has repeatedly criticised aspects of the government’s economic policies and called for measures aimed at reducing the cost of living for Nigerians.
The disagreement over fuel subsidies is expected to remain a major issue as political parties and presidential hopefuls begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
President Tinubu has continued to defend his economic reforms, arguing that difficult decisions are necessary to put Nigeria’s economy on a more sustainable path.
The exchange between the president and Atiku highlights the growing political contest over how Nigeria should manage its economy, particularly the cost of fuel, inflation and the welfare of millions of Nigerians.
