A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has called on President Bola Tinubu to apologise to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Nigerians over the government’s decision to introduce a temporary petrol discount.
Frank made the call in a statement on Friday, October 9, 2026, following the Federal Government’s announcement of a proposed 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) retail outlets. The arrangement is expected to give priority to public transport operators.
According to Frank, the initiative resembles aspects of Atiku’s proposal to support petroleum products refined locally. He argued that the government’s latest intervention raised questions about its earlier opposition to subsidy-related measures after petrol subsidy removal in May 2023.
Frank said Tinubu should acknowledge Atiku’s position and apologise for previous criticism of the former vice-president’s proposal. He also maintained that Nigerians deserve lasting relief from the rising cost of transportation, food and other essential goods.
The former APC spokesman questioned whether a discount lasting only 30 days would make a meaningful difference to households and businesses facing high operating costs. He called on the government to explain how many NNPC outlets would participate, how much petrol would be sold at the discounted rate and what measures would follow when the period ends.
Atiku has also criticised the proposed arrangement, describing it as temporary relief that may not address the wider cost-of-living pressures facing Nigerians. He questioned what would happen after the 30-day period and argued that his proposal for budgeted production support could offer a more lasting approach.
However, the government has rejected suggestions that the proposed discount amounts to a return to the former petrol subsidy system. Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the plan was intended to sell petrol at cost price for an initial 30-day period. The government had not specified the exact savings per litre or the pump price consumers would pay.
Atiku’s proposal for support tied to locally refined petroleum products is different from the government’s proposed retail discount. Whether either approach can deliver sustained lower prices will depend on its funding, implementation and the extent to which savings reach consumers.
The debate comes as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, with petrol prices and the wider cost of living expected to remain key public policy issues. The government’s proposed intervention has prompted renewed debate over how best to provide relief without creating new financial pressures for the country.