I’ll restore subsidy to ease hardship, Atiku insists

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, has reaffirmed his commitment to restore petrol subsidy during the 2027 Nigerian election cycle, stating it would ease hardship for Nigerians. In a post on X, Atiku emphasized that the policy would make life easier and more affordable for citizens. In an accompanying video, a female narrator highlighted that petrol prices in Nigeria have surpassed ₦1,300 per litre, significantly higher than those in other crude oil-producing nations like Libya, Iran, Venezuela, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

Atiku's proposal focuses on supporting petrol produced by local refineries, rather than imported products. He reiterated his stance, emphasizing that his position on restoring the subsidy has not changed. This announcement comes amid ongoing discussions about the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu's administration in May 2023.

Tinubu cited the rising costs of the subsidy as the reason for its discontinuation and directed the savings towards infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation. Atiku has consistently criticized the impact of the policy and made its restoration a cornerstone of his 2027 campaign promises.