Atiku's aide rejects minister's 'cheap petrol' claim, says affordability depends on income

Atiku Abubakar's media aide Paul Ibe slammed Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri on Wednesday for claiming Nigerian petrol is cheaper than in the US, arguing affordability must consider income and purchasing power, not just pump prices. Ibe noted four weeks of US federal minimum wage earnings could buy roughly 981 litres at American prices, stressing Nigerians spend large portions of income on food, transport, rent, electricity and healthcare, leaving little for fuel costs.

He linked petrol prices to wider economic pressures, explaining Nigeria's road transport and generator dependence means fuel hikes affect food, transport and production costs. Ibe's remark followed Lokpobiri's Channels TV interview where he said Nigeria couldn't arbitrarily reduce petrol to N1,000, N800 or N700/litre due to global crude oil markets, claiming local production and refining already kept domestic prices below US levels.

When officials compare Nigerian petrol prices to other countries, do you consider your actual income and cost of living, or just look at the pump number?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/23/atikus-aide-slams-tinubus-minister-over-cheap-petrol-claims/