Yari Fires Back:Anyone Promising Fuel Subsidy Return Is Deceiving Nigerians

The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari, has criticised promises to restore petrol subsidy, describing such pledges as misleading to Nigerians.

According to Ireporter Online, Yari made the remarks on Saturday when members of the APC National Working Committee paid him a courtesy visit, while reacting to African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to reintroduce a targeted fuel subsidy if elected in 2027.

Atiku had argued that a targeted subsidy could be introduced, while questioning the government’s handling of the savings reportedly generated following the removal of the subsidy regime.

Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, however, maintained that the 2023 budget approved by the National Assembly before President Bola Tinubu assumed office did not contain any provision for petrol subsidy.

The APC campaign council chief also questioned the huge amounts previously associated with fuel subsidy payments and raised concerns over the accuracy of figures relating to Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption.

Yari recalled that, during his tenure as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, state governors repeatedly demanded that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company provide clear and verifiable data on the country’s actual fuel consumption.

He argued that without reliable consumption figures, determining the true cost and beneficiaries of a subsidy programme would remain difficult.

Yari further defended the Tinubu administration, insisting that the President remains the right person to lead the country. He said the APC would focus its 2027 campaign on the administration’s achievements, available data and future plans rather than attacking political opponents.

According to him, the party intends to present Nigerians with facts and figures about what the government has accomplished over the past three and a half years and what it plans to achieve in the future.

Yari expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and said the APC would seek another mandate for the President based on the administration’s record and proposed plans for Nigerians.