Nigeria: Atiku Politicizing Nation's Economy With His Flip-Flops On Subsidy - Presidency

What the report says

Nigeria’s Presidency has sharply criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar after he renewed his call for the return of petrol subsidies. In a statement reported from Abuja by Vanguard and distributed by AllAfrica, presidential media aide Sunday Dare argued that Atiku’s latest position contradicts the economic stance he took during the 2023 presidential campaign, when he supported removing the subsidy because of concerns about cost, opacity and corruption.

The Presidency framed Atiku’s shift as political opportunism, saying he was trying to exploit public frustration over economic hardship rather than offering a workable alternative to the government’s reform agenda. The statement also said restoring the subsidy would reverse current policy gains and threaten progress in areas such as local refining and public finances. The remarks were presented as a direct rebuttal to Atiku’s recent criticism of the administration’s economic direction.

The dispute matters because fuel subsidies have long been one of Nigeria’s most contentious economic issues. Supporters of removal say the policy drained public funds and encouraged abuse, while critics argue it helped shield households from high transport and living costs. More broadly, the exchange highlights how subsidy policy remains central to political debate as the country continues to adjust to wider reforms and higher prices. As reported, the Presidency cast the issue as a test of leadership and fiscal discipline ahead of future political competition.