Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has reaffirmed his promise to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.
He said the policy would make life easier and fuel more affordable for Nigerians.
Atiku restated his position in a post on X on Monday, November 9, 2026. He also shared a campaign video explaining how his proposed intervention would work.
“My position stands! I will restore subsidy to make life easier and more affordable for Nigerians,” he wrote.
The video featured a female narrator who claimed petrol prices in Nigeria had exceeded ₦1,300 per litre. She also compared fuel prices with those in other oil-producing countries, including Libya, Iran, Venezuela, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Atiku Proposes Support for Locally Refined Petrol
The campaign video explained that Atiku’s proposed subsidy would support petrol produced by local refineries rather than imported fuel.
The arrangement would help domestic refineries operate until the industry could sustain itself without government assistance.
Atiku also reiterated his position in the video, saying, “My position has not changed and will not change. I will restore it.”
His proposal comes amid continued debate over the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in May 2023.
Tinubu announced the decision during his inauguration, arguing that the government could no longer sustain the rising cost of the subsidy. He promised to redirect the savings towards infrastructure, education, healthcare and job creation.
Subsidy Debate Returns Ahead of 2027 Election
Atiku has repeatedly criticised the impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians. He argues that citizens have not received sufficient benefits from the policy.
At the ADC presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto on November 4, he also promised to restore fuel subsidy, reopen land borders for legitimate trade and tackle insecurity if elected.
The subsidy proposal has become a major issue in the 2027 presidential contest. It also marks a significant shift from the policy position Atiku held during the 2023 election campaign.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the leadership of the David Mark-led ADC on November 5. The ruling also affected the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
The ADC has appealed the judgment and applied for a stay of execution.
The presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
