Atiku Abubakar Proposes Targeted Petrol Subsidy for 2027

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, has announced that if elected president in 2027, he would implement a targeted, capped, and transparently budgeted production subsidy tied to domestic refining, differing from the previous import-subsidy regime. This marks a significant shift from his 2023 presidential campaign position, where he advocated for the complete removal of petrol subsidies, having chaired a committee on the matter.

Atiku's earlier policy document proposed ending fuel subsidies within his first 100 days in office, arguing that the subsidy system was unsustainable and prone to fraud. In contrast, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the end of the subsidy regime on May 29, 2023, acknowledging the immediate hardships that followed, including increased transportation costs and rising food prices.

The ongoing debate centers on the necessity of the reform and its impact on ordinary Nigerians, who have faced declining purchasing power as a result.