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