African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2027 presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over rising fuel and transport costs, saying Nigerians need immediate economic relief rather than promises of future interventions.
Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said President Tinubu’s disclosure that only about 120,000 vehicles had been converted to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in more than three years amounted to an admission that the government’s policy had failed to deliver on its objectives.
He said the figure represented less than one per cent of the estimated 14 million vehicles on Nigerian roads.
The former vice-president also rejected Mr Tinubu’s argument that cheaper fuel should translate into lower transport fares, describing the position as evidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration had become disconnected from the economic realities facing Nigerians.
Atiku accused the government of removing fuel subsidies without establishing an effective framework to cushion the impact on households and businesses.
“Tinubu removed subsidy without a credible cushioning framework, watched transport costs explode, watched food prices follow, watched businesses suffocate under crushing energy costs, and repeatedly told Nigerians that their suffering was the unavoidable price of reform,” he said.
The ADC candidate further alleged that the administration had only recently begun paying greater attention to the need for cheaper transportation as the 2027 general elections approach.
While acknowledging that expanding CNG use could help reduce operating costs for converted vehicles, Atiku said it should not be presented as a solution to the wider crisis of declining purchasing power.
“CNG can make a converted bus cheaper to operate. It cannot make a poor Nigerian richer,” he said.
He also questioned the proposed October 1, 2026 implementation date for the CNG initiative, arguing that Nigerians facing high food and transport costs needed assistance immediately.
“Nigerians are hungry today. Transport is expensive today. Food is expensive today. Businesses are dying today. Why must relief arrive by appointment?” he asked.
Atiku called for a targeted, transparent and fiscally capped subsidy tied to domestic fuel production as part of measures to address the cost-of-living crisis.
He said such an intervention should be structured to ensure that the benefits reached ordinary Nigerians rather than politically connected individuals and companies.
“Fuel subsidy must return for struggling Nigerians, not the rich friends of the president and multinational companies, but a targeted production intervention that is transparently budgeted, independently audited and guarantees that the benefit reaches consumers,” he said.
Atiku pledged to support domestic refining, improve fuel production monitoring, cap costs and reduce energy expenses if elected.
He said the proposed measures would be aimed at easing the burden on commuters, farmers, workers, traders and small business owners.
