{
  "id": 3560950,
  "title": "Presidency slams Atiku over ‘conflicting’ petrol subsidy position",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/presidency-slams-atiku-over-conflicting-petrol-subsidy-position",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T18:18:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/presidency-slams-atiku-over-conflicting-petrol-subsidy-position/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Presidency has criticised Atiku Abubakar's proposal to restore petrol subsidy if elected president. Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, described the plan as an \"arithmetic flaw\" and an \"economic safari\".\n\nAccording to Dare, selling crude oil to local refineries at preferential prices would create fiscal and market distortions, reducing government revenue and potentially creating artificial monopolies. This, he argued, would directly slash allocations to federal, state, and local governments for essential services such as schools, hospitals, and security.\n\nAtiku's proposal involves supplying crude to domestic refiners below market value, which the Presidency claims would have negative economic consequences. The issue of fuel subsidy has become a contentious topic in Nigerian politics, with Atiku's declaration sparking a debate about bringing down the cost of living, which has soared beyond the reach of the majority.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Atiku doubles down on restoring fuel subsidy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/atiku-doubles-down-on-restoring-fuel-subsidy",
        "published": "2026-08-26T05:17:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "‘I’ll make naira stronger’ – Atiku insists on restoring fuel subsidy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/ill-make-naira-stronger-atiku-insists-on-restoring-fuel-subsidy",
        "published": "2026-08-26T05:37:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Why Atiku’s subsidy plan is flawed – Tinubu’s aide",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/why-atikus-subsidy-plan-is-flawed-tinubus-aide",
        "published": "2026-08-26T11:04:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TheCable",
        "title": "ICYMI: Atiku not planning to revive old fuel subsidy regime, says Amaechi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/icymi-atiku-not-planning-to-revive-old-fuel-subsidy-regime-says",
        "published": "2026-08-26T18:22:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}