Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has promised to restore Nigeria’s petrol subsidy if he wins the 2027 presidential election, putting fuel prices and the cost of living at the center of his emerging campaign message.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, made the pledge while responding to questions about President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy in May 2023. He said he did not initially oppose the policy but questioned how the savings from its removal had been used.
Atiku argued that money saved from the subsidy should have been directed toward reducing poverty and improving sectors such as education, health care and security. He also said anyone who misappropriated public funds associated with the subsidy should be held accountable.
The subsidy removal has remained one of the most controversial economic decisions of Tinubu’s administration. The policy caused petrol prices to rise sharply and contributed to higher transportation, food and other living costs. The government has maintained that ending the subsidy was necessary to reduce the financial burden on the country and redirect resources toward development.
Atiku’s promise comes as Nigeria’s 2027 presidential campaign officially gets underway, with economic hardship expected to be one of the major issues influencing voters. The election is increasingly shaping up as a contest between the government’s argument that its reforms are stabilising the economy and opposition claims that ordinary Nigerians are yet to feel the benefits.
The proposal has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians. Some citizens have welcomed the idea, particularly those struggling with high transportation and food costs since the subsidy was removed. For them, cheaper petrol could provide immediate relief to households and businesses facing rising operating expenses.
Others have expressed scepticism, arguing that restoring the subsidy could recreate the financial problems that contributed to its removal. Critics of the policy have long warned that subsidy payments placed a heavy burden on government finances and created opportunities for corruption and abuse.
There is also a question of whether a restored subsidy would benefit ordinary Nigerians equally. Supporters say lower petrol prices could reduce transportation and living costs, while opponents argue that wealthier Nigerians and businesses with higher fuel consumption could receive a larger share of the benefit.
Atiku’s pledge is therefore likely to become a major talking point during the 2027 campaign. The promise also places him in contrast with the Tinubu administration, which has defended the subsidy removal as part of a broader economic reform programme.
Another opposition presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has similarly said he would restore petrol subsidies if elected, arguing that governments should support vulnerable citizens.
As campaigning gathers momentum, Nigerians are likely to judge the competing proposals not only by the promise of cheaper fuel but also by how each candidate plans to fund the policy without worsening the country’s fiscal challenges. For many voters, the central question will be whether any new approach can make everyday life more affordable while keeping Nigeria’s finances sustainable.
