Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has put to rest conflicting claims over his petrol subsidy policy, insisting that his position has not changed and that he will restore a targeted subsidy if elected president. The ADC presidential candidate spoke in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving the Osun State leadership of the party, shortly after his media […]
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has put to rest conflicting claims over his petrol subsidy policy, insisting that his position has not changed and that he will restore a targeted subsidy if elected president.
The ADC presidential candidate spoke in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving the Osun State leadership of the party, shortly after his media aide, Paul Ibe, offered further clarification on how the proposed subsidy policy would operate.
Ibe had said the former vice-president would restore the petrol subsidy as a temporary measure before eventually phasing it out. According to him, the intervention would allow Nigerians and businesses to recover from economic pressures while encouraging economic activity and improving productivity.
Atiku, however, rejected the suggestion that the statement reflected a change in his position, saying his aide had not spoken on his authority. He said Nigerians had contacted him after hearing the remarks because they believed there was a contradiction in his stated policy.
The former vice-president maintained that he would restore subsidy because, in his view, the welfare of citizens must remain a fundamental responsibility of government. He argued that the removal of the subsidy had contributed significantly to the rising level of poverty in the country.
Atiku said the policy he intends to introduce would be a targeted subsidy aimed at returning purchasing power to Nigerians. He stressed that he would not bring back what he described as the “import racket” associated with the old subsidy system.
He explained that the impact of petrol prices extends beyond the pump, as increases in fuel costs raise transportation expenses, which then affect the prices of food and other essential goods. He said his plan was intended to break this cycle and provide relief to households.
According to Atiku, an administration under his leadership would support domestic production, reduce energy costs and improve the purchasing power of citizens. He said the focus would be on providing relief rather than restoring the system he criticised.
He also promised measures aimed at strengthening the value of the naira and making daily living more affordable, while identifying economic security and physical security as major priorities for his proposed administration.
Atiku further accused the Tinubu administration of worsening economic hardship, saying Nigerians had experienced severe pressure since the removal of the subsidy. He said his administration would pursue policies aimed at giving citizens a better standard of living.
Reiterating his position, Atiku said there was no ambiguity about his plan, insisting that his stance on subsidy “has not changed and will not change” if he eventually wins the presidency.