Atiku faults Tinubu’s fuel price comparison, says Nigeria costlier than Kenya
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said Nigeria is more expensive to live in than Kenya, dismissing President Bola Tinubu’s comparison of fuel prices as misleading.
Tinubu had stated during a visit to Bayelsa State that petrol is cheaper in Nigeria than in Kenya and other African countries.
Reacting in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that focusing on fuel prices alone ignores key indicators such as purchasing power, income levels, and overall cost of living.
According to him, while petrol may be cheaper in Nigeria, the broader economic reality shows that living costs are higher compared to Kenya.
“Nigeria today is more expensive to live in than Kenya, with the average cost of living significantly higher, despite lower fuel prices,” he said.
Atiku added that Kenya’s minimum wage is about twice Nigeria’s N70,000, noting that a worker in Nairobi earns the equivalent of about N170,000. He also said Kenya’s GDP per capita is nearly double that of Nigeria, reflecting stronger earning power.
He maintained that any meaningful comparison between countries must consider income and living standards, not just fuel prices.
