Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of adopting his petrol subsidy proposal but reducing it to a 30-day discount, which he described as an incomplete solution to Nigeria’s fuel price challenges.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the allegation on Friday in Abuja during the inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign council.

He accused Tinubu of borrowing his production subsidy proposal after previously dismissing it as unworkable, arguing that the administration had failed to implement the policy in a way that would deliver lasting relief to Nigerians.

“Bola, you have borrowed the idea but missed the lesson. You had a production subsidy and reduced it to a 30-day gesture,” Atiku said.

Using an analogy of a student copying another student’s examination answer, the ADC presidential candidate accused the President of taking his idea without fully understanding its intended purpose.

“You copied my production subsidy proposal. Nothing wrong about that. You stripped away the part that makes it work and handed Nigerians a 30-day discount. Where is the rest of the answer?” he said.

Atiku recalled that Tinubu had previously questioned his understanding of economic policy when he advocated targeted support to reduce petrol costs. He alleged that the administration had now embraced the principle it earlier criticised.

“Now in a desperate and clumsy retreat, you have shamelessly embraced the principle you mocked,” Atiku said, demanding an apology from the President.

His comments followed the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol discount at filling stations operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the initiative at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, saying the measure would initially run for 30 days, with priority given to public transport operators nationwide.

“We are offering a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC Limited for the next 30 days in the first instance with priority for public transporters nationwide,” Oyedele said.

The minister maintained that the initiative did not amount to a return of fuel subsidy, explaining that the arrangement was designed to enable the government to sell petrol at cost.

Oyedele also disclosed that the government was considering forward sales of crude oil to domestic refiners as part of efforts to ease economic pressure on households and moderate fluctuations in petrol prices.

According to him, the government is negotiating a ceiling price of ₦1,350 per litre at the ex-gantry or based on the landing cost of petrol, as part of measures to promote price stability.

He added that the proposed price ceiling would be reviewed monthly.