Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent comparison of Nigeria’s fuel prices with those of other African countries, describing the argument as misleading and disconnected from economic realities, Peak Newspaper reports
The criticism followed remarks by President Tinubu during a visit to Bayelsa State, where he urged Nigerians to be appreciative that petrol prices in Nigeria remain lower than in countries such as Kenya, despite prevailing economic hardship.
Reacting in a statement issued in Abuja through his media aide, Atiku argued that focusing solely on fuel prices ignores more critical indicators such as income levels, purchasing power, and cost of living. He maintained that such comparisons fail to reflect the actual economic burden faced by Nigerians.
He further highlighted disparities in earnings between the two countries, stating that a minimum wage earner in Kenya earns the equivalent of about ₦170,000, which is more than double Nigeria’s ₦70,000 minimum wage. According to him, this gap significantly affects affordability and quality of life.
Atiku stressed that while fuel prices may appear cheaper in Nigeria, the broader economic context paints a different picture, noting that Nigerians are grappling with higher living costs relative to their income. He warned that evaluating economic well-being based on isolated metrics such as petrol prices could create a false impression of progress.
