Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has claimed that an Atiku Abubakar-led administration would reduce the cost of transportation, fuel and food within its first year in office.
Amaechi said the proposed reduction would be driven by subsidy measures aimed at lowering the cost of essential goods and services, particularly transportation, electricity and fuel.
He made the claim on Friday while appearing on a popular television programme, where he criticised the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and outlined some of the measures proposed by the ADC.
Amaechi argued that the removal of petrol and electricity subsidies had increased the cost of living, leaving many Nigerians struggling to afford basic necessities.
“Everybody is suffering, everybody is looking for food to eat. People can’t buy fuel or travel. The airlines are threatening to increase the cost of transportation; everything is skyrocketing,” he said.
He also criticised the Tinubu administration over its promises on electricity supply, arguing that Nigerians were yet to see the improvements promised by the President.
According to him, Atiku had proposed subsidy measures to reduce the financial burden on households, including intervention in electricity costs.
“Atiku said I should tell you people that he will bring back the subsidy. Tinubu removed subsidy for electricity bill. He said Band A, B and C,” Amaechi said.
“My house electricity bill was N500,000; now I pay N4 million. Atiku said if he comes, I will go back to N500,000. No more Band A and B because government will subsidise it,” he said.
Amaechi clarified that the ADC was proposing a production subsidy rather than a return to the former consumer subsidy regime.
“The greatest asset you have is that the presidential candidate has said, I will bring back subsidy. We are not saying we are putting back consumer subsidy. We say we are putting back production subsidy,” he said.
On education, the former minister claimed that the number of out-of-school children had risen from 12 million to 20 million under the Tinubu administration, while putting the number of illiterate Nigerians at 92 million.
Explaining his decision to contest the 2027 election, Amaechi said his motivation was his understanding of the challenges facing the country.
“I don’t care who else is running. I’m running because I’m a Nigerian candidate. Because I know the Nigerian problem. And I can solve the Nigerian problem”
“Whether free and fair or not free, if we [ADC] are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election,” he said.