Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has faulted remarks by President Bola Tinubu comparing Nigeria’s fuel prices with those of other countries.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s senior special assistant on public communication, the former vice-president said Tinubu’s narrative “is not only misleading — it is a grave distortion of the lived reality of Nigerians”.
On Friday, Tinubu said Nigeria is better off economically compared to other African countries despite rising global fuel prices.
‘TINUBU’S COMPARISON DISTORTS NIGERIANS’ REALITY’
Atiku said the president focused narrowly on fuel prices while ignoring broader economic indicators.
“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 said comparisons with countries such as Kenya and South Africa were flawed.
“Yes, petrol prices in Nigeria may appear lower than in countries like Kenya or South Africa,” he said.
“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 declining earning power worsened the situation.
“Kenya’s GDP per capita is nearly double that of Nigeria, and a minimum wage earner in Nairobi takes home the equivalent of about ₦170,000—more than twice Nigeria’s ₦70,000,” Atiku said.
“In effect, while a Kenyan earns more and pays more, a Nigerian earns far less and is forced to survive under crushing economic pressure. This is the reality the President chose to ignore.”
Atiku said Nigeria’s wage structure compounds the hardship.
“While Kenya operates a tiered wage structure that reflects the economic realities of its cities and regions, Nigeria continues to impose a rigid national minimum wage that fails to account for the glaring disparities in cost of living across the country—thereby worsening the burden on millions of urban Nigerians,” he said.
“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 criticised the administration’s approach to economic crisis he said the nation is battling with.
“It is, therefore, deeply disappointing that at a time when citizens expect empathy, clarity, and decisive leadership, the President has chosen the path of statistical convenience,” he added.
“A government that relies on selective comparisons while its citizens grapple with rising poverty, inflation, and declining living standards risks appearing not only out of touch, but indifferent.
“Nigerians are not asking for comparisons—they are demanding relief. Nigerians deserve honesty. Nigerians deserve better.”
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