ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a scathing rebuke of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing the government of being indifferent to the economic hardship caused by its policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, October 10, 2024, Abubakar labeled Tinubu as “T-Pain,” criticizing him for exacerbating the suffering of Nigerians.
“The haphazard and disingenuous approach of the current administration to fuel subsidy management has been the reason we are in this current economic crisis,” wrote Abubakar, who was the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“As things stand, there will be no let up in the escalating inflation rate, which is drowning the material well-being of Nigerians. It is even more worrying that T-pain is undisturbed by the hardship in the country.”
The haphazard and disingenuous approach of the current administration to fuel subsidy management has been the reason we are in this current economic crisis in the country. As things stand, there will be no let up in the escalating inflation rate, which is drowning the material…
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) October 10, 2024
Fuel Price Hike Sparks Public Outrage
Nigerians were hit with another sharp rise in petrol prices on Wednesday when the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets increased the pump price of fuel across Lagos and Abuja.
In Lagos, prices soared to ₦998 per liter, up from ₦855, while in Abuja, the price reached ₦1,030 from an earlier ₦897. The sudden price hike has triggered panic-buying and long queues at fuel stations.
Independent filling stations across Lagos and Abuja quickly followed suit, raising prices to as high as ₦1,050 in some areas.
The latest increase follows a similar hike by the NNPCL in early September, when petrol prices jumped from ₦568 to ₦855 per liter, sparking widespread public outrage.
Atiku’s Condemnation of Subsidy Removal
Abubakar’s criticism reflects growing dissatisfaction among many Nigerians over the economic impact of the government’s decision to remove the fuel subsidy earlier this year, which has resulted in skyrocketing inflation and rising costs for essential goods and services.
The former vice president has consistently voiced his opposition to the handling of the subsidy removal, warning that it would further deepen economic inequality in the country.
The removal of the subsidy, a key policy of President Tinubu’s administration, was aimed at curbing government spending and reducing fiscal deficits.
However, the policy has led to a sharp rise in fuel prices, which global oil market fluctuations have compounded.
Rising Discontent
The latest increase in fuel prices has added to the mounting pressure on the Tinubu administration, with many Nigerians struggling to cope with rising living costs.
Despite the public outcry, there has yet to be an official statement from the NNPCL addressing the price hikes.
However, industry insiders have pointed to the Dangote Refinery’s recent petrol distribution as a possible precursor to further price increases.
As inflation continues to rise and fuel prices soar, Atiku’s pointed criticism is likely to resonate with many Nigerians feeling the strain of the country’s economic woes.
With the opposition turning up the heat, the Tinubu administration faces increasing demands to address the worsening economic situation and provide relief to its citizens.
