Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the recent general election, took to Facebook to address concerns about the alleged continuation of fuel subsidies under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Abubakar suggested that if the reports are accurate, they could seriously undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism.
Abubakar expressed dismay over the administration’s purported covert extension of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He noted that the President’s silence amid ongoing disputes between local investors advocating for refinery operations and those supporting imported PMS was deeply troubling.
“The President’s silence is profoundly disconcerting,” Abubakar stated. “It is crucial that the President, who is responsible for addressing such critical issues to protect national interests, takes decisive action. The secrecy surrounding the downstream petroleum sector and disturbing reports of NNPC Limited diverting funds meant for other purposes to cover subsidy payments are deeply troubling. If these reports are accurate, they have serious implications for our fiscal federalism.”
Abubakar emphasized the urgent need for the Tinubu administration to clarify the complexities of the subsidy policy and the petroleum refining sector.
He called for greater transparency in governance, asserting that only through clear and open administration can Nigeria hope to resolve the current fuel scarcity and economic difficulties affecting its citizens.