Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to restore Nigeria’s fuel subsidy if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku made the declaration during a Facebook Live session while responding to questions on the removal of the subsidy and its impact on Nigerians.
The ADC candidate said he did not initially oppose the policy but had changed his position after questioning how the savings from the subsidy removal had been utilised.
“I initially did not oppose the removal of the fuel subsidy. But now that it has been removed, where is the money? Where has the subsidy money gone? Has it been used to improve healthcare, education or security?
“If I win the presidential election, I will restore the subsidy. And anyone who stole Nigeria’s subsidy funds must return the money.”
President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, triggering a sharp rise in fuel prices and subsequent increases in transportation, food and other living costs.
Tinubu had defended the decision, arguing that the subsidy had become too expensive for the country to sustain.
