Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu for comparing Nigeria’s fuel prices with those of other African countries, arguing that the assessment overlooks the real economic hardship faced by citizens.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the comparison as misleading, insisting that lower petrol prices do not translate to better living conditions for Nigerians.
“It is both curious and troubling that the President would isolate fuel prices as a metric of economic comfort while ignoring the far more critical indicators of purchasing power, income levels, and cost of living,” he said.
“This selective reasoning betrays either a fundamental misunderstanding of economic realities or a deliberate attempt to deflect from policy failures.”
Atiku acknowledged that petrol prices in Nigeria may be lower than in countries such as Kenya and South Africa but argued that the comparison fails when broader economic realities are considered.
“Yes, petrol prices in Nigeria may appear lower than in countries like Kenya or South Africa. But this comparison collapses instantly when placed against the backdrop of economic realities. Nigeria today is more expensive to live in than Kenya, with the average cost of living significantly higher, despite lower fuel prices,” he said.
The former vice president also highlighted declining income levels, noting disparities in earnings between Nigeria and Kenya.
“More alarming is the collapse in earning power. Kenya’s GDP per capita is nearly double that of Nigeria, and a minimum wage earner in Nairobi takes home the equivalent of about N170,000—more than twice Nigeria’s N70,000,” he said.
He added that affordability should be assessed based on the relationship between income and expenditure, warning that current conditions have worsened living standards.
“The implication is clear: affordability is not defined by price alone, but by the relationship between income and expenditure. On this measure, Nigerians have never had it worse.”
Atiku further criticised the government’s approach, saying reliance on selective comparisons risks portraying leadership as disconnected from the realities of rising poverty, inflation, and declining living standards.
