Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over Nigeria’s troubled refineries, arguing that the current administration should take responsibility for the challenges facing the country’s petroleum sector.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the comments in a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
His reaction followed Tinubu’s recent remarks that he had accepted responsibility for the “assets and liabilities” inherited from previous administrations.
Atiku argued that Tinubu could no longer blame previous governments for the state of the refineries after his administration spent funds on their rehabilitation and presented their return to operation as an achievement.
He cited NNPC financial records which he said showed that the combined obligations of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries rose from about N4.52 trillion in 2023 to N8.67 trillion in 2024.
According to Atiku, the increase of about N4.15 trillion occurred during Tinubu’s administration.
“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways.”
He questioned what Nigerians had gained from the money reportedly committed to rehabilitating the refineries and demanded explanations over the increase in their financial obligations.
“Where did the money go? Where are the products? Where are the savings Nigerians were promised?”
Atiku also accused the administration of taking credit for the refineries when their return was announced but attempting to shift responsibility when the facilities failed to deliver the expected results.
He maintained that Nigerians deserved transparency over the spending and performance of the refineries.
“Mr President, stop blaming your predecessors.”
Atiku warned that Nigeria could not afford what he described as another period of wasteful spending and policy failures, arguing that after more than three years in office, the Tinubu administration should be accountable for its own decisions and outcomes.
Source: Statement by Atiku Abubakar through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication.
