Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his proposal to reintroduce a targeted petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.
Onanuga questioned the consistency and economic viability of Atiku’s proposal, arguing that statements from the former vice president’s aides had created confusion over whether the proposed subsidy would be temporary or remain in place until certain market conditions were achieved.
The presidential aide, in an article published on Thursday, said Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, initially stated that the former vice president would restore petrol subsidy and later phase it out.
According to Onanuga, another senior aide, Phrank Shaibu, subsequently described Ibe’s position as an “unauthorised and misleading characterisation” of Atiku’s policy.
Onanuga noted that Atiku later personally reaffirmed his position, saying he would restore a “targeted subsidy” if elected.
The presidential aide said the differing explanations raised questions about the precise structure, cost and duration of the proposed intervention.
He challenged Atiku to explain how the policy would be funded, who would benefit and what conditions would determine when the subsidy would eventually end.
Onanuga also questioned the former vice president’s argument that subsidy would “follow the barrel,” pointing to the fact that crude oil refining produces several petroleum products apart from petrol.
He argued that a refined barrel produces products including diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, petrochemical feedstocks, asphalt, liquefied hydrocarbons, lubricants and other by-products.
According to him, this raises questions about whether government support would apply only to petrol or extend to other products that are also important to households and businesses.
Onanuga further argued that petrol prices were only one of several factors affecting the cost of living, noting that exchange rates, crude oil prices, refining costs, transportation, logistics, agricultural productivity, insecurity and other supply constraints also influence food prices.
He therefore accused Atiku of oversimplifying the relationship between petrol prices, transportation costs and food inflation.
The presidential aide defended the Tinubu administration’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy had helped improve government finances and stabilise the broader macroeconomic environment.
He urged Atiku to provide Nigerians with a detailed explanation of his proposed subsidy regime rather than rely on broad political promises.
The renewed disagreement comes as political parties and presidential contenders begin shaping their economic messages ahead of the 2027 general election, with fuel prices and the cost of living expected to remain major campaign issues.