The United Friends For Atiku (UFFA) has backed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s criticism of the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount, describing it as confirmation of policy collapse.
In a statement issued by its National Executive Council in Abuja at the weekend, the support group for Atiku’s 2027 presidential bid said it unreservedly backs what it called timely and patriotic intervention by its principal on the petrol discount announced for NNPC retail outlets.
The group said Nigerians woke to sudden announcement of temporary price cut and aligned with Atiku’s position that the move is not economic policy but confession of systemic failure and cosmetic measure on self inflicted wound.
UFFA said the question raised by Atiku on what happens after 30 days echoes anxiety of over 200 million Nigerians.
It argued that for over three years Nigerians endured hardship under fiscal reforms with fuel rising from N198 to over N1300 per litre, transport costs multiplying, food inflation above 40 percent and small businesses shutting, adding that 30 days relief cannot erase years of impoverishment.
The group said Atiku’s observation that administration behaves like unprepared student copying another script is apt, noting that government mocked Atiku’s production subsidy model for years but now attempts to copy it without structural components.
According to UFFA, Atiku’s blueprint centres on supporting domestic production and subsidising output and feedstocks for refineries operating on Nigerian soil, fiscal discipline and transparency by putting intervention in national budget with defined ceiling and independent audit, and price stabilisation linked to mass transit and domestic refining capacity.
It said instead government delivered ad hoc, opaque ex gantry price capping without clarity on funding source, budget line and response to foreign exchange swings.
UFFA said the 30 day retreat is admission that subsidy is gone policy was rolled out without planning and empathy, and that returning to NNPC managed price reduction shows economy cannot survive unbuffered energy price shock.
The group urged Nigerians, civil society, organised labour and community leaders to stand behind Atiku’s rescue agenda, saying solution to energy and cost of living crisis is not temporary discount but visionary, transparent and competent leadership.
