Presidency criticizes Atiku over petrol subsidy

The Nigerian Presidency, through Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, publicly criticized former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for what it described as inconsistent and contradictory positions on petrol subsidy policy. Within one week, Atiku's camp offered three different explanations: his spokesperson Paul Ibe said subsidy would be restored and later phased out; another aide Phrank Shaibu disowned that as unauthorized and said subsidy would remain until market conditions improved; then Atiku himself reaffirmed a 'targeted subsidy' plan. The Presidency accused Atiku of playing politics and lacking understanding of petroleum economics, questioning the cost, beneficiaries, and funding of his proposal. It defended the Tinubu administration's subsidy removal as beneficial to fiscal health and macroeconomic stability.