2027: Atiku Vows To Restore Fuel Subsidy If Elected

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to restore fuel subsidy if he wins the 2027 presidential election.

According to Ireporter Online, Atiku made the declaration while responding to questions in an interview circulating on social media, where he criticised the economic consequences of the subsidy removal introduced by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023.

The former Vice President argued that Nigerians have yet to see sufficient benefits from the policy, particularly in areas such as healthcare, education and security.

Atiku said he initially did not oppose the removal of the subsidy but questioned how the funds saved by the government had been utilised.

He asked, “Where is the money? Where has the subsidy money gone? Has it been used to improve healthcare, education or security?”

The ADC presidential candidate subsequently pledged that he would reverse the policy if elected President in 2027.

Atiku said, “If I win the presidential election, I will restore the subsidy. And anyone who stole Nigeria’s subsidy funds must return the money.”

His position comes amid the Federal Government’s defence of the subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms, which it says have increased government revenue and created additional resources for public spending.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, recently disclosed that the two reforms generated an additional ₦15.8 trillion for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

Oyedele said the reforms had expanded the resources available to government and strengthened its capacity to finance public expenditure.

Atiku, however, maintained that the impact of the subsidy removal must be assessed against the economic hardship experienced by Nigerians and the actual use of the funds saved by the policy.