The Atiku Media Office has responded to recent remarks by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Bayelsa, where he attempted to justify the deepening hardship in Nigeria by drawing comparisons with fuel prices in other countries.

In a statement issued by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Phrank Shaibu, the office stated unequivocally that such a narrative is not only misleading but a grave distortion of the lived realities of Nigerians.
It described as both curious and troubling the President’s decision to isolate fuel prices as a measure of economic comfort while ignoring more critical indicators such as purchasing power, income levels, and cost of living.

According to the statement, this selective reasoning reflects either a fundamental misunderstanding of economic realities or a deliberate attempt to deflect attention from policy shortcomings.
While acknowledging that petrol prices in Nigeria may appear lower than in countries like Kenya and South Africa, the statement argued that such comparisons are flawed when placed in proper economic context.

It noted that Nigeria is currently more expensive to live in than Kenya, with a significantly higher cost of living despite lower fuel prices.
The statement further highlighted the decline in earning power, noting that Kenya’s GDP per capita is nearly double that of Nigeria.

It added that a minimum wage earner in Nairobi earns the equivalent of about ₦170,000—more than twice Nigeria’s ₦70,000—placing Nigerians under severe economic strain.
“In effect, while a Kenyan earns more and pays more, a Nigerian earns far less and is forced to survive under crushing economic pressure. This is the reality the President chose to ignore,” the statement said.

It also criticised Nigeria’s rigid national minimum wage structure, noting that unlike Kenya’s tiered system, it fails to reflect variations in cost of living across different regions, thereby worsening the burden on urban residents.
The statement emphasised that affordability is determined not by price alone but by the relationship between income and expenditure, stressing that on this measure, Nigerians have never had it worse.

It expressed disappointment that at a time when citizens expect empathy, clarity, and decisive leadership, the President had resorted to what it described as “statistical convenience.”
“A government that relies on selective comparisons while its citizens grapple with rising poverty, inflation, and declining living standards risks appearing not only out of touch but indifferent,” it added.

The Atiku Media Office stated that Nigerians are not asking for comparisons but demanding tangible relief, urging the administration to confront the full scope of the economic crisis rather than rely on arguments it said collapse under scrutiny.
“Nigerians deserve honesty. Nigerians deserve better,” the statement concluded.