Confusion has trailed the fuel subsidy position of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, following contradictory statements from his media aides.
Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, said the former Vice President would restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027 and phase it out later. He said the intervention would support Nigerians and be tied to crude oil production and domestic refining.
However, another aide, Phrank Shaibu, rejected the statement, saying it was an inaccurate description of Atiku’s position.
Shaibu said Atiku was not proposing a return to the old import-subsidy regime, but a targeted and independently audited intervention to support domestic refining, reduce production costs and ease the burden on Nigerians.
He said the intervention would be withdrawn as domestic refining, supply and competition improve.
Atiku had earlier called for the reversal of fuel subsidy removal, alleging that the proceeds had not been properly utilised by the Bola Tinubu administration.
He later proposed a temporary, transparently budgeted intervention alongside accelerated domestic refining and measures to reduce petroleum costs.
The Federal Government said fuel subsidy removal freed N15.8 trillion between June 2023 and December 2025, with N5.4 trillion accruing to the Federal Government and N10.4 trillion shared among states and local governments.
The conflicting explanations from his aides have raised questions about the precise fuel subsidy policy Atiku intends to pursue if elected in 2027.
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