Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has called on President Bola Tinubu to apologise to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar following the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets.
The discount, unveiled on Thursday, is intended to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices. In a statement released on Friday, Frank argued that the temporary measure closely mirrors a proposal previously advanced by Atiku—one that the Tinubu administration had sharply criticised.
“We expect Tinubu and his government to first apologise to Atiku Abubakar for their previous attacks on his proposal to restore the fuel subsidy if he were elected President,” Frank said. “Secondly, he should commend and thank him for what we consider an excellent proposal that could help address the current economic hardship facing Nigerians.”
Frank maintained that the intervention exposes inconsistencies in the government’s stance on the petrol subsidy, which was removed in May 2023. He insisted that Nigerians deserve lasting relief rather than short-term fixes from the economic hardship that followed the policy change.
He questioned the distinction between the new discount and the subsidy arrangement the administration had abolished, declaring: “Simply put, Tinubu, who maintained a hardline stance on fuel subsidy removal, has gone back to his vomit.”
Frank further urged the President to apologise directly to Nigerians for the removal of the fuel subsidy, describing it as a policy mistake that has exacted a heavy economic toll since 2023. He noted that higher petrol prices have driven up transportation and logistics costs, placing pressure on traders, manufacturers, farmers, small businesses and ordinary households struggling with rising expenses for commuting, food and other necessities.
The temporary measure, he argued, raises serious questions about whether it will deliver meaningful relief to millions of Nigerians still grappling with the consequences of the subsidy removal.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​