Former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s fuel subsidy policy following calls by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for state intervention to lower petrol prices. IPMAN recently urged the government to negotiate with domestic refiners, including Dangote Refinery, to alleviate rising pump prices. Atiku argued that the current crisis validates his position that the government should provide targeted support for local refining rather than maintaining the previous import-based subsidy model, advocating for a policy where subsidies directly benefit consumers through locally refined products.