Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, accused the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of secretly sustaining fuel subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit despite previous claims to the contrary.
Atiku, who expressed concern in a statement on Monday via X, accused the Federal Government of lacking transparency in contravention of Tinubu’s public declaration that the fuel subsidy regime had ended while recent reports suggested 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 wrote.
He said this inconsistency between the President’s words and actions “significantly erodes the credibility of his administration.”
The former vice president also pointed to the current 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.
Atiku described this delay as 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 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections further condemned the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited for denying the ongoing subsidy payments, arguing that such denials have only worsened Nigerians’ hardships.
Atiku further 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 added, “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.”
He urged 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,” Atiku added.
