Presidency Blasts Atiku Over Promise to Restore Fuel Subsidy

The Presidency has criticised the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his pledge to restore the fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.

The Presidency described the former vice president’s proposal as “hypocrisy and deceit”, accusing him of attempting to manipulate Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku had recently said he would consider restoring the petrol subsidy removed by President Bola Tinubu in 2023 if he wins the presidential election.

Reacting to the former vice president’s position, presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare, in a statement, faulted the proposal and questioned Atiku’s motivation for promising to reverse one of the administration’s major economic policies.

Dare accused Atiku of seeking to exploit public dissatisfaction with the economic consequences of subsidy removal to gain political support.

“Atiku Abubakar: Your pronouncement that you will bring back fuel subsidy is drenched in hypocrisy and deceit,” Dare said.

He described the proposal as an attempt to manipulate public opinion and persuade Nigerians to support Atiku at the polls.

The presidential spokesperson further argued that reversing the subsidy policy would undermine what the administration described as progress recorded across various sectors of the economy.

According to Dare, the Tinubu administration’s reforms were aimed at addressing longstanding economic challenges and creating a more sustainable fiscal structure for the country.

He warned that returning to the former subsidy regime could jeopardise the gains the government claims to have achieved since the policy was removed.

“The ongoing recovery across various sectors of our national life annoys you, and will be halted if this thinking of yours is implemented,” Dare stated.

He expressed confidence that the policy would not be reversed under the current administration, urging Nigerians to reject what he described as political manipulation.

“By the Grace of God, it will not happen and all good men of conscience must rise up against you,” he added.

Atiku’s proposed return of the subsidy has become a major political issue ahead of the 2027 election, with supporters arguing that the policy could reduce the burden of high fuel and transportation costs on Nigerians.

The Tinubu administration, however, has consistently defended the subsidy removal, maintaining that the policy freed resources for development and increased allocations to the states and local governments.

The latest exchange adds to growing political disagreements over the direction of Nigeria’s economy as political parties and their presidential candidates position themselves ahead of the 2027 poll.