National Patriots Respond to Atiku’s Criticism of the Federal Government’s Petrol Price Intervention
By Gloria Fraser, MFR
The National Patriots Movement of Nigeria considers the Atiku Media Office’s criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed 30-day petrol discount an unfortunate misrepresentation of a temporary intervention intended to cushion Nigerians against rising transportation costs.
A commercial discount is not subsidy restoration. NNPC Retail’s proposed decision to forgo its profit margin differs fundamentally from the former government-funded petrol subsidy regime. One involves reduced commercial earnings; the other requires public resources to absorb the difference between economic costs and regulated prices.
NNPC should nevertheless clarify the arrangement publicly, including its financial implications, to prevent misunderstanding and political speculation.
TEMPORARY RELIEF IS NOT POLICY FAILURE
Governments worldwide adopt temporary measures during exceptional energy-price pressures. The United States recently introduced temporary diesel-tax relief arrangements as prices approached $6.50 per gallon. Although the American intervention differs in structure, both recognise the importance of cushioning consumers without necessarily abandoning market reforms.
The initial 30-day period should therefore represent the beginning of a carefully sequenced relief strategy, not its conclusion.
The National Patriots recommend reviewing and extending the discount, where financially sustainable, or introducing comparable relief until CNG-powered vehicles, electric mobility and affordable mass-transit services become more widely accessible.
ATIKU’S PRODUCTION-BASED SUBSIDY: WHO BEARS THE COST?
Atiku’s proposed production-based subsidy, involving preferential crude pricing for domestic refiners, raises serious economic questions.
Selling Nigerian crude below its international market value creates an implicit subsidy through forgone revenue, even without direct Treasury payments.
Furthermore, cheaper crude does not automatically translate into cheaper petrol. Without enforceable safeguards, refiners and intermediaries could retain the benefits.
Who absorbs the revenue loss? How would discounts reach consumers? What prevents preferential allocations and market distortions?
Domestic refining deserves support through reliable crude supply, infrastructure and competitive market conditions, not arrangements whose fiscal consequences remain inadequately explained.
NIGERIANS NEED RELIEF, NOT POLITICAL POINT-SCORING
Atiku’s criticism of NNPC’s retail coverage raises legitimate accessibility concerns. However, prioritising commercial transport operators could benefit commuters, traders and food distribution beyond participating filling stations.
Government must ensure that transport savings reach ordinary Nigerians.
Similarly, acknowledging the hardship accompanying economic reforms does not establish that those reforms were unnecessary. The responsibility is to strengthen social protection while addressing longstanding fiscal and structural weaknesses.
Atiku’s comparison with the Obasanjo administration also requires historical accuracy. Nigeria’s emergence as Africa’s largest economy followed the 2014 GDP rebasing exercise, not a ranking achieved between 1999 and 2007.
THE NATIONAL PATRIOTS POSITION
We commend President Tinubu’s support for temporary petrol-price relief while urging NNPC to publish participating outlets, financial arrangements and implementation procedures.
We particularly recommend extending appropriate relief beyond 30 days, subject to periodic review, while accelerating CNG, electric mobility and affordable mass transportation.
Opposition criticism is legitimate, but economic proposals must withstand scrutiny.
Nigerians deserve immediate relief, sustainable reforms and measurable improvements in their daily lives—not political arguments that confuse commercial discounts with subsidy restoration.
Signed:
Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR
President, The National Patriots Movement of Nigeria
Former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan
Vice-Chairman, Strategic Communications Committee, Buhari PCC 2019
Member, Strategy Committee, Presidency 2023.
9 October 2026
