Atiku Reignites Fuel Subsidy Debate As 2027 Presidential Campaign Begins

Atiku Reignites Fuel Subsidy Debate as 2027 Presidential Campaign Begins The 2027 presidential campaign has opened with a familiar and contentious issue: fuel subsidy, with former Vice President and African Democratic Congress ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, proposing a new approach to reducing petrol prices.

Atiku’s position has triggered a sharp response from the Presidency, which accused him of attempting to revive a subsidy system it described as wasteful and financially burdensome. Clarifying his position, Atiku said he would not restore the old petrol subsidy regime if elected president. Instead, he proposed shifting government support from imported petrol to domestic production.

Under his proposed model, subsidies would be targeted, capped, transparently budgeted and independently audited, with support tied to verifiable domestic refining and measurable benefits for consumers. Atiku said the policy would require refineries receiving subsidised Nigerian crude to refine it domestically and pass the resulting benefit to consumers through lower petrol prices. He also pledged tighter monitoring of crude allocation, refinery production and domestic fuel deliveries. The proposal has drawn criticism from the Presidency. Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku’s position as retrogressive and questioned how the proposed subsidy would be financed. The Tinubu administration removed the petrol subsidy in May 2023, a decision that resulted in a significant increase in fuel prices but also increased revenues available for distribution to the three tiers of government. The subsidy debate has since remained one of the most politically sensitive aspects of Tinubu’s presidency, particularly amid concerns over rising transportation, food and living costs. Minister of Finance Taiwo Oyedele recently disclosed that the government received N15.8 trillion in fuel subsidy savings between June 2023 and December 2025, while N30.64 trillion was spent on incremental expenditures during the period. The figures have themselves become a subject of political dispute. Meanwhile, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike criticised Atiku’s position, accusing the former vice president of inconsistency after previously supporting the removal of fuel subsidy. Other groups have taken different positions. The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum welcomed Atiku’s proposal, while the Northern Christian Association urged Nigerians to carefully scrutinise campaign promises and assess their economic feasibility.

The Allied Peoples’ Movement APM, meanwhile, disputed the government’s reported subsidy savings figure and demanded a comprehensive account of the proceeds. With the 2027 election now taking shape, the renewed fuel subsidy controversy is expected to remain a major issue as political parties seek to convince Nigerians of their competing economic plans.