{
  "id": 1255926,
  "title": "‘Unforgivable failure’, Atiku hits Tinubu over trillions spent on ailing refineries",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/unforgivable-failure-atiku-hits-tinubu-over-trillions-spent-on-ailing",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T10:33:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/unforgivable-failure-atiku-hits-tinubu-over-trillions-spent-on-refineries/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has harshly criticized President Bola Tinubu over the substantial funds spent on Nigeria's refineries. Atiku urged Tinubu to stop deflecting blame onto his predecessors and take responsibility for the money poured into these facilities during his time in office. He claimed it was a \"terrifying act of political evasion\" for Tinubu to now discuss inherited refinery debts when his administration funded the projects, promoted their so-called improvements, and used their revival as proof of his \"Renewed Hope Agenda.\"\n\nAccording to the NNPC's financial data, the total liabilities of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries climbed from ₦4.52 trillion at the end of 2023 to ₦8.67 trillion by the end of 2024 - a rise of around ₦4.15 trillion in just one year under Tinubu's leadership. Atiku lambasted Tinubu's administration for celebrating the refineries' \"return to operation\" in November 2024 while now claiming they are simply inherited liabilities from past governments.\n\nAtiku argued that the refineries were operating at a \"monumental loss\" and wasting taxpayers' money. He questioned what Nigerians received in return for the ₦4 trillion additional spending on the refineries in 2024 alone. He demanded answers about where the funds went, the products produced, the savings promised to the people, and the refinery that Tinubu's government publicly touted before cameras before it faced embarrassment.\n\nAtiku pointed out the irony that Nigerians continue to face high petrol prices while vast public resources were squandered on failing refineries. He asked what ₦4 trillion could accomplish in Nigeria instead - building universities, modernizing hospitals, repairing roads, and providing electricity and clean water to communities. He called this a \"complete failure of governance\" and equated Tinubu's presidency to a story of \"fire and smoke\" - massive spending and grand declarations without tangible benefits for the populace.\n\nAtiku concluded by urging Tinubu to stop blaming his predecessors and acknowledge that he is now creating new liabilities. He argued that four more years of this \"failure\" is unsustainable for Nigeria. The former candidate demanded accountability and questioned why Tinubu was still consuming trillions without delivering tangible results for the people.",
  "summary": "Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has told President Bola Tinubu to “stop hiding behind the failures of his predecessors” and account for the enormous resources committed to Nigeria’s refineries under his own watch. Atiku said it was an extraordinary act of political escapism for President Tinubu to now speak about […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}