Nigeria: If Elected President I Will Restore Fuel Subsidy - Atiku

What the report says

Former Nigerian vice president and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar said he would bring back the country’s petrol subsidy if elected in the 2027 presidential race, according to This Day as republished by AllAfrica. He made the remarks during a Facebook Live session in response to questions about the subsidy removal and its effect on everyday costs.

Atiku said he had not originally opposed ending the subsidy, but now wants to revisit the policy and see what happened to the savings. He questioned whether the funds have been directed toward public services such as healthcare, education or security. He also said that anyone found to have taken subsidy money should return it. The article did not provide details on how such a restoration would be financed or implemented.

The comment comes against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy at his May 29, 2023 inauguration. That move led to higher fuel prices and broader increases in transport and food costs, according to the report. Tinubu has argued that the subsidy was too expensive for the government to maintain. The issue remains politically significant in Nigeria because fuel pricing has a direct impact on household spending and inflation pressures.