Atiku clarifies fuel subsidy olan, says no return to import regime

By Johnson Arua

Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has clarified that his proposed petroleum intervention is not a return to Nigeria’s discredited fuel import subsidy regime, but a targeted measure aimed at supporting domestic production and reducing the cost of living.

Atiku’s position came amid comments attributed to one of his aides suggesting that an Atiku administration would restore fuel subsidy before eventually removing it.

In a statement on Tuesday, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the aide’s comments as an “unauthorised, imprecise and materially misleading characterisation” of the former vice president’s position.

Shaibu said Atiku had never proposed restoring the import subsidy regime and subsequently removing it at a predetermined date, stressing that the policy position belonged to the candidate and could not be redefined by any spokesperson.

“For 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.

According to him, what Atiku is proposing is a “targeted, capped, transparently budgeted and independently audited subsidy” designed specifically to support domestic refining and production, with measurable conditions for its eventual withdrawal.

Shaibu explained that the intervention would gradually become unnecessary as domestic refining capacity expands, fuel supply stabilises, competition increases and the market becomes capable of delivering affordable prices without government support.

“As domestic refining expands, supply stabilises, competition deepens, and the market becomes capable of delivering affordable prices without government support, the intervention progressively becomes unnecessary,” he said.

He added, “You do not remove scaffolding because the calendar says so. You remove it when the building can stand securely on its own.”

The former vice president’s aide also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of transferring the burden of its economic reforms to Nigerian households.

“Tinubu transferred the shock of his reforms to Nigerian families. Atiku will reduce production and transportation costs, strengthen domestic refining, and restore purchasing power,” Shaibu said.

He maintained that the choice before Nigerians was not between removing or restoring fuel subsidy, but between what he described as an expensive economy and an affordable one.

“The choice is not removal of subsidy versus restoration of subsidy. It is Expensive Nigeria versus Affordable Nigeria,” he declared.