Fuel price: Nigeria more expensive to live in than Kenya – Atiku tells Tinubu

‎Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has said Nigeria is more expensive to live in now than Kenya.

‎News reports that President Bola Tinubu, in his remarks when he visited Bayelsa State, said fuel prices are cheaper in Nigeria than in Kenya and other African countries.

‎Reacting to Tinubu’s remark, Atiku, in a statement by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu on Saturday, said the comparison is ‘shallow’ and not only misleading but a grave distortion of the lived reality of Nigerians.

‎He wondered why the President would isolate fuel prices as a metric of economic comfort while ignoring the far more critical indicators of purchasing power, income levels, and cost of living.

‎According to him, when compared with the average living cost, Nigeria is more expensive than Kenya despite the cheaper fuel pump price.

‎“Yes, petrol prices in Nigeria may appear lower than in countries like Kenya or South Africa. But this comparison collapses instantly when placed against the backdrop of economic realities.

‎“Nigeria today is more expensive to live in than Kenya, with the average cost of living significantly higher, despite lower fuel prices.”

‎Atiku added that Kenya’s minimum wage is twice Nigeria’s N70,000.

‎“More alarming is the collapse in earning power. Kenya’s GDP per capita is nearly double that of Nigeria, and a minimum wage earner in Nairobi takes home the equivalent of about N170,000—more than twice Nigeria’s N70,000,” he said.

‎News reports that fuel price in Nigeria is between N1,290 and N1,350 per liter, while that of Kenya is over N1,800

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