2027: Atiku clarifies fuel subsidy position after aide’s ‘restore, remove later’ comment

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has clarified his stance on restoring fuel subsidy ahead of the 2027 elections. In a statement released by his media team, Atiku emphasized that his proposal was intended to alleviate the financial burden on ordinary Nigerians. It's essential to note that a comment attributed to his media aide, Paul Ibe, suggested that an Atiku administration would "restore fuel subsidy and remove it later."

However, Atiku's media team dismissed Ibe's remark as "unauthorized, imprecise, and materially misleading," asserting that no spokesperson can alter, exaggerate, or improvise on a policy already clearly stated by the candidate.

Atiku's team emphasized that policy is solely the responsibility of the candidate and not the spokesperson. They stressed that their role is to accurately convey Atiku's position, not to create confusing formulations that could benefit the opposition. Atiku never proposed reinstating the import-subsidy regime and subsequently removing it on a predetermined date.

Instead, his proposal involves a targeted, capped, transparently budgeted, and independently audited subsidy that promotes domestic refining and production, with measurable exit conditions from the outset.

When domestic refining expands, supply stabilizes, competition increases, and the market can provide affordable prices without government support, the intervention becomes progressively unnecessary. Removing scaffolding is not determined by an arbitrary calendar date but rather when the building can stand securely on its own. This clarification comes in the wake of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Bola Tinubu's administration branding Atiku's proposal as a political ploy to appeal to voters.

Similarly, presidential candidates Peter Obi and Prince Adewole Adebayo from the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Social Democratic Party disagreed with Atiku's plan to restore fuel subsidy. In May 2023, President Tinubu announced the end of fuel subsidy, which led to increased fuel prices and consequently, higher living costs. The Minister of Finance recently revealed that the country saved N15.8 trillion from eliminating the fuel subsidy.