Ayo Arise Critiques Atiku's Fuel Subsidy Proposal

Ayo Arise, a former Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, criticized Atiku Abubakar's proposal to reinstate Nigeria's fuel subsidy if elected in 2027. Arise warned that such a move would revert the country to an era marked by corruption, economic waste, and financial instability.

He described the proposal as economically retrogressive, arguing that the removal of the fuel subsidy has enhanced the financial capacity of both the federal and state governments, allowing them to meet salary obligations, execute development projects, and reduce borrowing. Arise stated that the benefits of subsidy removal extend beyond the immediate rise in living costs, highlighting that it has enabled regular salary payments without the need for federal bailouts.

He noted that increased revenues from subsidy removal are now being redirected to critical sectors, including education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund). Arise cautioned that restoring the subsidy would reintroduce a system notorious for corruption, where public funds were misappropriated under false fuel importation claims.