Atiku Abubakar Reaffirms Commitment to Restore Subsidy

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stated his unwavering position on restoring fuel subsidies in Nigeria during a meeting with the Osun State leadership of the ADC in Abuja on Tuesday. He disowned comments made by his media aide, Paul Ibe, who suggested that Atiku would gradually phase out the subsidy after the economy recovers if elected president in 2027.

Atiku clarified that he intends to restore targeted subsidies to alleviate hardship for Nigerians, asserting that the nation is wealthy enough to support its citizens. He emphasized the importance of making wages valuable again and supporting local production to reduce energy costs.

Atiku also differentiated his proposed subsidy intervention from the previous regime's fuel import subsidy, stating that his approach would focus on domestic production and measurable performance. A statement from his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, reiterated that Atiku's plan is not to reinstate the old subsidy system but to implement a transparent intervention aimed at local refining.