Atiku Abubakar Rejects N22trn Subsidy Cost Claim

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has rejected the Presidency's assertion that his proposed targeted subsidy intervention would incur a cost of N22 trillion, labeling it as "arithmetic vandalism." In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the recent petrol price increases, despite falling crude oil prices, indicate that President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms are causing hardship for Nigerians. He clarified that his proposal does not advocate for a return to the import-subsidy regime but is instead focused on a targeted, capped, and transparent intervention linked to domestic production.

Atiku criticized the government for creating figures for opposition policies while failing to account for nearly N30 trillion in Federation revenues under Tinubu's administration. He questioned why ordinary Nigerians continue to face high costs for food, transportation, and energy despite increased government revenues.