Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says he would restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, arguing that Nigerians have not been given a satisfactory account of the funds generated after the subsidy was removed.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, stated this during an interview with BBC Hausa published on Friday while discussing his plans to address the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
He said he had not initially opposed the removal of the subsidy but questioned how the savings from the policy had been utilised.
Atiku argued that the funds were expected to support measures aimed at reducing poverty, improving education, tackling insecurity and creating economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
According to him, the government has focused on ending the subsidy without adequately demonstrating how the resulting resources have translated into improved living conditions.
He also questioned claims concerning the amount of money generated through the policy and asked why more of the resources had not been directed towards vulnerable Nigerians.
Atiku said restoring the subsidy would be part of his response to the economic hardship facing citizens if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
He maintained that his criticism was not simply about removing the subsidy but about the alleged failure to channel the resulting savings into programmes that would benefit Nigerians.
The former vice president also recalled his proposal during the 2023 presidential election to commit $10 billion towards programmes designed to provide young Nigerians with capital for businesses and other economic activities.
He argued that targeted investment in young people could help reduce unemployment and improve their ability to support themselves.
Atiku further said funds generated from subsidy reforms should have been invested in security, education, job creation and poverty reduction.
He maintained that the policy could have produced better results if the savings had been transparently invested in those areas.
The ADC candidate therefore promised that, if elected, his administration would review the subsidy policy and ensure that resources were directed towards addressing economic and social challenges.
The petrol subsidy became one of the most contentious economic issues following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to end the policy shortly after assuming office in 2023.
The decision triggered a sharp increase in petrol prices and contributed to a wider debate over the government’s management of the savings generated from the reform.
Atiku has repeatedly challenged the Federal Government to account for those resources, making subsidy policy a major part of his economic argument ahead of the 2027 election.