Atiku’s Subsidy Proposal Sparks Pro-poor Storm Ahead of 2027
*ADC presidential candidate fires back at Tinubu: You removed subsidy, retained the racket, handed Nigerians the bill Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Dike Onwuamaeze, Sunday Ehigiator and Peter Uzoho in Lagos
As Nigerian presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar gears up for the 2027 election, he has reignited a contentious debate over petrol subsidies, proposing a targeted, capped intervention to alleviate the burden of high fuel prices and living costs on low-income Nigerians. This proposal comes after his predecessor, President Bola Tinubu, removed the subsidy in 2023, sparking widespread protests and criticism for failing to safeguard citizens against the sudden rise in energy costs.
Atiku's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, stated that Atiku's plan is not a return to the corrupt and opaque subsidy regime of the past, but rather a transparent, budgeted mechanism aimed at supporting domestic refining and safeguarding against arbitrage. Energy experts, however, remain skeptical of a return to the old system, warning of its fiscal unsustainability and the corruption it has fostered.
Critics argue that the subsidy removal savings claimed by the government, estimated at N15.8 trillion, are significantly overstated, with some estimates reaching up to N27 trillion. They demand a detailed accounting of these funds, insisting that they be transparently allocated to areas that directly improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Former Vice President Atiku has called on the current administration to provide evidence of the benefits of the subsidy removal, specifically pointing to the continued appearance of energy-security costs and petroleum under-recoveries in the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Atiku's proposal has gained significant support from a diverse range of stakeholders, including energy experts, legal scholars, and civil society organizations. His plan, which includes a targeted, capped, and independently audited subsidy intervention, has been hailed as a potential game-changer in the election campaign, as it directly addresses the concerns of Nigeria's poor, who are most affected by the high cost of living.
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