2027: Atiku vows to restore petrol subsidy if elected

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has promised to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.

Atiku made the pledge during an interview on Wednesday, accusing the Federal Government of failing to account for the funds generated from the removal of the subsidy.

He said he did not oppose the decision to remove the subsidy but questioned how the resulting savings had been used.

“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go? It was intended to reduce poverty and help children attend school. Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” Atiku said in Hausa.

The former vice-president said he would reinstate the subsidy and recover any funds allegedly misappropriated if elected.

“If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it,” he said.

Atiku argued that the removal of the subsidy could have been justified if the savings had been invested in projects and programmes capable of improving the welfare of Nigerians.

“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went. If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different,” he said.