Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government over its claim that fuel subsidy has been removed, arguing that the government is still indirectly funding petrol price shortfalls.
Atiku made the comment while reacting to the government’s handling of the downstream petroleum sector, particularly the financial support reportedly provided to cover differences between the market price of petrol and the price paid by consumers.
According to him, the development contradicts the administration’s repeated assertion that the era of petrol subsidy is over.
The former vice president argued that if public funds are still being used to bridge fuel price gaps, the government cannot genuinely claim that subsidy has been completely abolished.
He maintained that Nigerians deserve transparency over the actual cost of petrol and the amount of public money being committed to keeping prices at certain levels.
Atiku has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy, arguing that the policy has imposed significant hardship on Nigerians without sufficient measures to cushion its impact.
The Federal Government, however, has maintained that petrol subsidy was removed in 2023 and that current interventions in the petroleum sector should not be interpreted as a return to the old subsidy regime.
The latest exchange comes amid continued debate over petrol pricing, government spending and the impact of energy costs on Nigerian households and businesses.
