Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has restated his commitment to bringing back petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.
Atiku made the clarification after his media aide, Paul Ibe, suggested during an interview with African Independent Television that a future Atiku administration could restore the subsidy temporarily and gradually remove it once the economy improves.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving leaders of the ADC from Osun State, Atiku said Ibe’s comments did not represent his position.
He maintained that he would restore targeted petrol subsidy, arguing that Nigeria has sufficient resources to provide economic relief to citizens struggling with the rising cost of living.
Atiku later reinforced the position in a statement shared on his X account, explaining that the proposed subsidy would be aimed at reducing the pressure caused by high fuel, transport and food prices.
According to him, the strength of the Nigerian economy should not be judged solely by government revenue but also by the purchasing power available to ordinary citizens.
He said his administration would seek to make wages more valuable, reduce the burden of transporting agricultural produce and create an environment where businesses can expand and employ more workers.
Atiku also linked the increase in petrol prices to higher transportation and food costs, saying the effects eventually reach households across the country.
He promised that his economic programme would focus on lowering energy costs, encouraging domestic production and improving Nigerians’ purchasing power.
The ADC candidate stressed that his proposed subsidy policy would not be aimed at reviving fuel importation businesses but at providing relief to Nigerians.
He further said his broader agenda would combine economic and physical security with measures designed to improve living standards.
Atiku is expected to make the issue of fuel prices and the cost of living a major part of his campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
