Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has promised to introduce a targeted fuel subsidy if elected president, while criticising President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and vowing to ease the financial pressure on Nigerians.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate made the pledge on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with the Osun State leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he maintained that his position on energy subsidies had not changed.
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Addressing the rising cost of living, the former vice president noted that higher fuel prices had triggered increases in transportation fares and food costs, placing additional pressure on households.
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“When fuel rises, transport rises. When transport rises, food rises. When food rises, families suffer,” he said, promising to break what he described as a “wretched chain” that had shaped Nigeria’s economic situation under the Tinubu administration.
Atiku said the government should measure economic prosperity by citizens’ purchasing power rather than by increased government revenue.
“I want wages to have value again. I want farmers to move produce without transport swallowing their profits. I want families to fill their baskets without emptying their pockets,” he said.
He clarified that his proposed subsidy would focus on providing relief to Nigerians rather than returning the country to what he described as inefficiencies in fuel importation.
“I will support Nigerian production, reduce energy costs and restore purchasing power. I will not restore the import racket; I will restore relief,” Atiku said.
He added that Nigeria had enough resources to shield its citizens from extreme economic hardship.
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Atiku also identified economic security and physical safety as key pillars of his proposed administration, promising to build a country where Nigerians could afford necessities and enjoy a better standard of living.
