Atiku knocks Tinubu’s administration over fuel subsidy, refinery delays

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of covertly continuing the fuel subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit despite previous claims to the contrary.

In a statement on Monday via X, Atiku expressed concerns and accused the federal government of lack of transparency, contrasting Tinubu’s public declaration that the subsidy regime had ended with recent reports suggesting otherwise.

“The latest revelations circulating through credible media outlets regarding the federal government’s covert continuation of the subsidy on PMS represent another chapter in the opaque governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” Atiku said.

According to him, this inconsistency between the President’s words and actions “significantly erodes the credibility of his administration.”

Atiku also pointed to the ongoing fuel scarcity and rising energy costs as evidence of the administration’s failure, particularly criticising the delays in the re-operation of the Port Harcourt refinery. He labelled this delay a “national disgrace” and placed responsibility squarely on President Tinubu, who also serves as the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

He said, “At a time when the nation grapples with severe fuel scarcity and escalating energy costs, the continued delays in the re-operation of the Port Harcourt refinery stand as a national disgrace — a failure that rests firmly on the shoulders of President Tinubu, who also holds the office of the Minister of Petroleum Resources.”

The former Vice President further condemned the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited for its denials of the ongoing subsidy payments, arguing that these denials only worsen the hardships faced by Nigerians.

He also expressed concern over reports that NNPC Limited may be diverting funds intended for other purposes to cover subsidy payments, warning of the potential implications for Nigeria’s fiscal federalism.

He said, “Amidst a contentious dispute between local investors favouring refinery operations and those advocating for imported PMS, the President’s silence is profoundly disconcerting. It is paramount that the President, who is intrinsically responsible for overseeing and intervening in such critical disputes to safeguard national interests, steps up to fulfil these expectations.

“The veil of secrecy shrouding the downstream petroleum sector, coupled with alarming reports of NNPC Limited diverting funds intended for other purposes to cover subsidy payments, adds layers of confusion that are unbearably unsettling. If these reports hold true, they portend grave implications for the integrity of our fiscal federalism.”

Atiku called on the Tinubu administration to urgently clarify its stance on the subsidy policy and address the ongoing issues in the downstream petroleum sector.

“Only through transparent governance can Nigerians hope to find relief from the current debilitating conditions of fuel scarcity and the spiralling inflation affecting petroleum products,” he added.