They acquire private jets and luxury cars, while government projects are left abandoned–Vatsa

According to a report by Daily Post on Sunday, August 23, 2026, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, has supported former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s criticism of the Federal Government’s decision to remove fuel subsidy, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the policy.

Vatsa, who is a former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Niger State, said the impact of the subsidy removal had placed Nigerians under severe economic pressure and made life increasingly difficult for citizens.

Vatsa maintained that the Federal Government needed to pay closer attention to the concerns raised by Atiku Abubakar about the subsidy policy rather than dismissing them on the basis of political differences.

According to him, the hardship experienced by Nigerians should be given priority, particularly as the policy had, in his view, failed to provide relief for ordinary citizens.

He argued that the government should examine the consequences of the decision and consider whether it was achieving its intended objectives.

The former commissioner made his position known in a statement issued in Minna on Sunday.

The statement was titled “Let’s Take Atiku’s Message and Leave the Messenger,” reflecting his appeal that attention should be directed towards the issues contained in Atiku’s criticism rather than towards the person delivering the message.

Vatsa said President Tinubu should separate the substance of the former vice president’s argument from his political identity and consider the concerns being raised about the condition of Nigerians.

Vatsa also questioned how public resources were being managed by state governments despite what he described as increased allocations to the states.

He alleged that some governors had continued to obtain loans even as more funds were being made available to them.

According to him, the situation had raised concerns because increased financial resources had not been matched by visible improvements in infrastructure and the completion of government projects.

He further alleged that luxury expenditure had continued to increase while several infrastructure projects remained unfinished.

Vatsa argued that the spending priorities of some governments were difficult to reconcile with the condition of public infrastructure across the country.

He said citizens continued to see abandoned projects despite the financial resources available to governments, while the acquisition of expensive items by public officials was allegedly taking place alongside the neglect of important development projects.

The APC chieftain specifically pointed to the condition of roads, schools and hospitals, saying that many projects in these areas had not been completed.

He also alleged that some government officials had acquired private jets and luxury vehicles while public projects were left unfinished.

Vatsa said the contrast between such spending and the state of infrastructure demonstrated the concerns he was raising about how public funds were being utilised.

He therefore maintained his position that the issues raised in Atiku’s criticism should receive attention.

“Yet, you see uncompleted projects all over the country. There are no roads, no schools and no hospitals. They acquire private jets and luxury cars, while government projects are left abandoned,” he alleged.

COURTESY: Masu_W