2027 presidential hopeful, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to restore fuel subsidy through support for locally refined petroleum products, insisting that the policy would reduce transportation costs, ease food prices and improve the standard of living of Nigerians.
In a post shared on his X account on Friday, Atiku said his proposal was not aimed at subsidising imported petrol but at encouraging domestic refining to make fuel more affordable.
Responding to a supporter identified as Francis, Atiku wrote: “I am not restoring subsidy so that Nigeria can keep paying for imported petrol. I am restoring subsidy so that Nigerians can produce more at home, pay less for fuel, and keep more money in their pockets.”
According to him, there is a clear difference between subsidising imported fuel and supporting local production.
“That is the difference between import subsidy and production subsidy,” he said.
To explain his position, Atiku compared the policy to supporting local shoe manufacturers instead of making imported shoes cheaper.
“Think about shoes. If government wants Nigerians to buy shoes more cheaply, it can spend public money making imported shoes cheaper, or it can support shoemakers in Aba to reduce their production costs so they can make more shoes here, employ more Nigerians and sell at more affordable prices.
“I choose the Aba shoemaker.”
The former vice president said he would apply the same approach to the petroleum sector by supporting crude refined within Nigeria.
“I will do the same with fuel. We will support crude refined in Nigeria so our refineries can produce at a lower cost and you can pay less.”
Atiku stressed that his vision extends beyond reducing fuel prices, saying affordable energy would lower transportation costs and reduce the prices of goods and services across the country.
“I want the bus fare you pay every morning to come down. I want the cost of taking food from the farm to the market to come down. I want the trader to spend less. I want the barber, tailor, welder and small business owner to spend less on energy.”
He added that his goal is to improve the welfare of ordinary Nigerians by easing the financial burden on families and businesses.
“I want a mother to return from the market with more food in her bag.
“I want a father to pay transport and still have something left in his pocket.
“I want a small business owner to close for the day with profit, not just enough money to buy fuel for tomorrow.”
Describing affordability as the cornerstone of his economic agenda, Atiku concluded:
“Less money spent on fuel.
Less money spent on transport.
Less pressure on food prices.
More money left for your family.
“My promise is personal: I want you to feel relief in your pocket, in your home and in your daily life.
“I will make life affordable again.
“I will make Nigeria affordable again.
“It is a promise.”