Atiku: I’ll Restore Targeted Fuel Support to Cut Costs, Not Enrich Tinubu and Allies

ABUJA — Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has reiterated that his proposed petroleum intervention is not a return to Nigeria’s former import-subsidy regime, but a targeted support programme aimed at boosting domestic production and reducing the cost of living.
Atiku’s position came amid controversy over comments attributed to one of his aides suggesting that an Atiku administration would restore fuel subsidy and later remove it.
Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the former Vice President, Phrank Shaibu, in a statement on Tuesday, said the remarks amounted to an unauthorised and misleading description of Atiku’s policy position.
According to Shaibu, policy positions belong to the candidate and should not be redefined by spokespersons.
“For the avoidance of doubt, policy belongs to the candidate, not the spokesperson. Our responsibility as communicators is to explain Atiku’s position accurately, not create formulations capable of confusing Nigerians or handing opponents convenient talking points.”
He said Atiku had never proposed restoring the import-subsidy regime and subsequently removing it on a predetermined date.
“Atiku has never proposed restoring the import-subsidy regime and subsequently removing it on some predetermined date. That is not his policy and should not be attributed to him,” Shaibu said.
The clarification centres on Atiku’s proposed alternative, which his campaign says would focus on supporting domestic refining and petroleum production rather than subsidising imported fuel.
Shaibu explained that the proposal would involve a targeted, capped and transparently budgeted intervention subject to independent auditing, with measurable conditions for its eventual phase-out.
He said the support would progressively become unnecessary as domestic refining expands, fuel supply stabilises, competition increases and the market becomes capable of delivering affordable prices without government intervention.
“You do not remove scaffolding because the calendar says so. You remove it when the building can stand securely on its own,” he added.
Shaibu also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of transferring the economic impact of its reforms to Nigerian households.
According to him, an Atiku administration would focus on reducing production and transportation costs, strengthening domestic refining capacity and restoring Nigerians’ purchasing power.
“Tinubu transferred the shock of his reforms to Nigerian families. Atiku will reduce production and transportation costs, strengthen domestic refining, and restore purchasing power,” he said.
He added that the policy debate should not be framed simply as a choice between removing and restoring fuel subsidy.
“The choice is not removal of subsidy versus restoration of subsidy. It is Expensive Nigeria versus Affordable Nigeria,” Shaibu declared.
The clarification comes as the 2027 political contest begins to generate competing economic policy proposals, particularly over fuel pricing, domestic refining, household purchasing power and the broader impact of economic reforms on Nigerians.