Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to reinstate the fuel subsidy regime if he is elected president of Nigeria in 2027.

Atiku argued that the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration has not yielded any benefit for Nigeria.

Tinubu announced the removal of the subsidy during his inaugural presidential address in May 2023, a decision that immediately exacerbated the economic difficulties faced by citizens, with the prices of goods and services soaring to unprecedented levels.

Nevertheless, the current administration maintains that it has since increased monthly allocations to states and initiated infrastructure projects across the nation.

Despite having previously endorsed the removal of the fuel subsidy, Atiku Abubakar contends that it has not served the interests of the populace.

“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?” He said in an interview on social media.

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

Atiku is hoping to defeat the incumbent President and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, and his former vice-presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who is the flag bearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.