Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo and former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode have criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar after he addressed President Bola Tinubu as “Bola” in a statement mocking the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount.
The exchange has intensified the political dispute surrounding the government’s temporary intervention in petrol prices, with the disagreement extending beyond the policy itself to the language used by political figures on opposing sides.
Atiku had used the President’s first name while challenging the effectiveness of the petrol discount, which the Federal Government introduced as a temporary measure to ease the burden of elevated fuel costs on Nigerians.
In his criticism, the former vice-president argued that the administration had adopted elements of his proposed production subsidy framework without incorporating the features he considers necessary for the policy to deliver lasting relief.
Atiku compared the President’s approach to a student copying another student’s examination answers but failing to reproduce the complete solution. He argued that a 30-day discount would not adequately address the structural problems associated with high petrol prices.
Keyamo questions Atiku’s conduct
Keyamo subsequently responded to Atiku’s remarks, criticising the former vice-president and suggesting that he needed mental health support.
The minister’s intervention added to the exchange between supporters of the Tinubu administration and opposition figures over the government’s response to rising fuel prices.
Fani-Kayode also joined the criticism, taking issue with Atiku’s manner of addressing the President.
The comments have generated a political dispute over the boundaries of public criticism, the tone of political communication and the substance of the government’s economic intervention.
The criticism of Atiku by the two Tinubu allies does not, however, resolve the central policy question: whether the temporary discount can provide meaningful relief to consumers facing high transport and living costs.
Fuel prices remain at the centre of the debate
The Federal Government has maintained that the 30-day initiative is a temporary price-relief measure rather than a return to the petrol subsidy regime removed in May 2023.
The policy debate has centred on whether a short-term discount can adequately protect households and businesses from price volatility, or whether a more sustainable framework is needed to reduce the burden of fuel costs.
Atiku has argued that his proposed approach would offer a more comprehensive solution, while the government has presented its initiative as an immediate response to difficult market conditions.
The competing positions have become part of the broader political debate ahead of the 2027 general election, as the administration defends its economic policies and opposition figures question their effectiveness.
Beyond the personal exchanges, the issue facing policymakers remains how to balance market-based fuel pricing with the need to limit the impact of rising energy costs on Nigerians.