Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has reiterated his plan to restore a targeted fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.

Atiku said the policy would help shield Nigerians from the impact of high petrol prices while reducing the burden of rising transportation and production costs.

He stressed that his proposal would not amount to a return to the previous open-ended subsidy regime, but would involve a capped and transparently budgeted production subsidy aimed at making petrol more affordable, supporting local refining and stimulating economic activity.

Atiku also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the petrol subsidy removal, accusing the administration of shifting the burden of higher fuel prices to ordinary Nigerians while allegedly benefiting wealthy interests.

He argued that the government should prioritise policies that protect vulnerable Nigerians and improve their purchasing power.

The proposal has, however, triggered strong reactions from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political figures.

APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, described Atiku’s position as troubling and suspicious, while other critics warned that restoring subsidy could reverse economic gains and place additional pressure on government finances.

The renewed debate over petrol subsidy is expected to remain a major economic and political issue as parties and candidates begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.