Jigawa residents say subsidy removal impoverished Nigerians, back Atiku

Former APC chieftain Alhaji Faizu Alfindiki has criticized former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's recent pledge to reinstate petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027. Alfindiki noted that Atiku, now running on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform, had previously advocated for the removal of the subsidy during the 2023 presidential campaign.

The APC official challenged Nigerians to scrutinize Atiku's shift in stance and questioned why the former vice-president's position had changed. Alfindiki argued that returning to the pre-2023 subsidy regime would impose additional financial burdens on government coffers and distort the petroleum market. He urged policymakers to focus on strategies to make petroleum products more affordable through increased local refining, improved infrastructure, and investment, rather than relying on subsidies.

Alfindiki also called on the Federal Government to account for the revenue and savings generated by the subsidy removal, emphasizing that Nigerians deserved transparency about how these funds were being utilized. He warned that reinstating the subsidy could divert resources from vital sectors like infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

The APC chieftain emphasized that Nigeria needed policies to bolster local production, generate employment, and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products, rather than using subsidies to mask economic challenges. Alfindiki stressed that the country's economic discourse should be grounded in facts, transparency, and the long-term national interest, not mere electoral promises.