Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has renewed his promise to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, saying the policy would reduce the cost of living and make fuel more affordable for Nigerians.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), restated his position in a post on X on Monday, sharing a campaign video outlining his proposed approach to fuel subsidy.
“My position stands! I will restore subsidy to make life easier and more affordable for Nigerians,” he wrote.
The campaign video argued that Nigerians were paying more than ₦1,300 per litre for petrol and compared domestic fuel prices with those in other crude oil-producing countries, including Libya, Iran, Venezuela, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, where the narrator said consumers enjoyed cheaper fuel.
Under Atiku’s proposed arrangement, government support would be restricted to petrol produced by local refineries rather than imported petroleum products. The video explained that the intervention would support domestic refining until the industry became sufficiently established to operate without government assistance.
The former Vice-President reiterated his commitment in the video, saying, “My position has not changed and will not change. I will restore it.”
Atiku’s latest declaration comes amid continued debate over the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in May 2023. Tinubu announced the policy during his inauguration, arguing that the rising cost of subsidy payments had become unsustainable and that the savings would be redirected towards infrastructure, education, healthcare and job creation.
Since then, Atiku has repeatedly criticised the policy and made subsidy restoration a central part of his economic promises ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
At the ADC presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto on November 4, he also pledged to restore petrol subsidy, reopen Nigeria’s land borders for legitimate trade and address insecurity if elected president.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the 2027 presidential election for January 16, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are fixed for February 6.
Atiku secured the ADC presidential ticket in May for his seventh attempt at the presidency. However, his nomination, alongside decisions taken by the party’s David Mark-led leadership, was nullified by a Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5.
The ADC has challenged the judgment at the Court of Appeal and filed an application seeking a stay of execution.
