African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar is facing mounting pressure to provide detailed explanations of his plan to reinstate Nigeria’s fuel subsidy regime if elected in the 2027 general elections. Arise Television’s Political News Editor, Sumner Sambo, publicly called on the former Vice President to clarify what returning to fuel subsidy would entail for ordinary Nigerians, noting that any campaign strategy must convince citizens on implementation details. Atiku’s pledge stems from his argument that President Bola Tinubu’s subsidy removal has failed to yield benefits for the nation.
The proposal has triggered sharp criticism from the ruling All Progressives Congress and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, who accused Atiku of confusion and inconsistency on the subsidy issue. ADC chieftain Kola Ologbondiyan defended the position, clarifying that nobody contemplates returning to the old system but rather reviewing the subsidy regime to reduce production costs and lower prices for end users. He emphasized that current subsidy removal has brought Nigerians to their knees and failed to fulfill promised benefits.
Sambo acknowledged that Tinubu’s fuel subsidy savings and removal have favoured elites more than ordinary people, while Atiku’s team counters that despite incentives provided to upstream investors, Nigerians continue suffering under the current arrangement. Ologbondiyan declared that the subsidy removal is taking a toll on Nigerians and warned it would hurt both citizens and the Tinubu administration more severely.
As the 2027 election approaches, the fuel subsidy debate remains central to political discourse, with voters demanding concrete solutions to address skyrocketing fuel costs and their ripple effects across the economy. Both camps must now articulate clear policy alternatives that balance fiscal sustainability with citizen welfare.
Leave a comment