Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to reinstate the fuel subsidy regime if elected president of Nigeria in 2027.
Atiku argued that the removal of the subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration has failed to yield any tangible benefit for the country.
Tinubu announced the subsidy’s removal during his inaugural address in May 2023, a decision that immediately worsened the economic hardship faced by citizens, with prices of goods and services soaring to unprecedented levels. The current administration, however, maintains that it has since increased monthly allocations to states and rolled out infrastructure projects across the country.
Despite having initially supported the removal, Atiku now insists it has not served the interest of the Nigerian people.
“I initially did not oppose the removal of the fuel subsidy. But now that it has been removed, where is the money? Where has the subsidy money gone? Has it been used to improve healthcare, education or security?” he said in a social media interview.
“If I win the presidential election, I will restore the subsidy. And anyone who stole Nigeria’s subsidy funds must return the money,” he added.
Atiku is seeking to unseat incumbent President and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, as well as his former running mate, Peter Obi, who is flying the flag of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2027 election.
