Atiku Abubakar Defends Production Subsidy Proposal

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a statement issued on October 24, 2023, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused the Tinubu Presidency of distorting concerns raised by Dangote Refinery regarding his production subsidy proposal. Atiku asserted that the refinery's warning against arbitrary pump-price controls highlighted the government's dishonesty.

He clarified that his proposal aims to restore subsidy through a production model, supporting crude refined in Nigeria, as opposed to an import subsidy model. Atiku explained that this approach would lower fuel costs for Nigerians while preserving legitimate refining costs.

He emphasized that the subsidy would be tied strictly to crude refined domestically, benefiting Nigerian refineries and workers. Atiku criticized the government's attempt to equate all subsidies with import dependence as misleading and a distortion of the policy debate.