Petrol Price Shock: Former Vice President Atiku Slams Tinubu Over Economic Crisis

Nigerians, still reeling from the shock of the recent petrol price hikes, have been dealt another blow. According to recent reports, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has further adjusted the pump price of petrol in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This latest increase has set off panic-buying and long queues at filling stations across the cities.

In his recent social media post, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), slammed President Bola Tinubu, labeling him “T-Pain” for his alleged indifference to the hardship caused by his policies, including the removal of petrol subsidy. Atiku criticized the current administration’s “haphazard and disingenuous approach” to fuel subsidy management, which he believes has led to the current economic crisis.

Atiku’s statement comes as many Nigerians struggle to cope with the escalating inflation rate, which is “drowning the material well-being of the nation.” He warned that the situation will only worsen unless drastic measures are taken to address the crisis. “As things stand, there will be no let up in the escalating inflation rate, which is drowning the material well-being of Nigerians. It is even more worrying that T-pain is undisturbed by the hardship in the country,” he wrote.

The latest petrol price hike, which has taken the fuel price from ₦568 to ₦1,030, has sparked outrage among motorists and transporters. Many NNPCL outlets have increased the price of petrol, while other filling stations not owned by the NNPCL have followed suit, with some selling as high as ₦1050 in many parts of Lagos. The situation is just as dire in Abuja, where the price of petrol has been hiked from ₦897 to ₦1,030.

Despite the pressure, the NNPCL has yet to issue an official statement on the latest fuel price hike. However, the company has hinted at a fresh price increase, following its decision to begin loading petrol from the Dangote Refinery in mid-September. As the fuel crisis continues to worsen, it remains to be seen how the government and NNPCL will respond to the growing unrest among Nigerians.