Tinubu failed to cut petrol taxes to ease hardship, unlike Germany – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has criticized President Bola Tinubu's failure to reduce petrol taxes, unlike his counterpart in Germany. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku lamented the continued suffering of Nigerians due to high fuel prices.

He stated that families are struggling to afford basic necessities, including meals, transportation, and other essentials. Atiku pointed out that Germany, a neighboring country to Nigeria, has taken action to alleviate its citizens' economic hardship by cutting fuel taxes by €0.17 per liter from October to December, resulting in an estimated cost of €2.5 billion.

The prices at the pump in Germany have begun to fall, providing relief to its citizens. Atiku emphasized that when petrol becomes more expensive, transportation and other essential goods become more expensive as well, leading to a cycle of hardship for ordinary Nigerians. He called for the Nigerian government to prioritize the welfare of its people by implementing targeted, budgeted support for fuel refined in Nigeria, ensuring that the benefit directly lowers pump prices.

Atiku expressed regret for Nigerians having to choose between feeding their families, paying for transportation, and meeting other basic needs. He vowed to make life affordable again, contrasting it with Tinubu's unrelenting increase in prices and labeling it as the price of reform.