Atiku: Subsidy Return Will Reduce Fuel, Transport Costs

By Nafiu Muhammad Lema

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has reiterated his proposal for a production subsidy on locally refined petroleum products, saying the policy would reduce fuel costs and ease economic pressure on Nigerians.

Atiku made the remarks in a series of posts on X on Saturday while explaining the difference between an import subsidy and the production subsidy he is proposing.

He said his plan was not aimed at returning Nigeria to a system of subsidising imported petrol, but at supporting domestic refining to make fuel cheaper for consumers.

“I am not restoring subsidy so that Nigeria can keep paying for imported petrol. I am restoring subsidy so that Nigerians can produce more at home, pay less for fuel, and keep more money in their pockets,” Atiku said.

According to him, the key difference is that an import subsidy makes foreign products cheaper, while a production subsidy supports local producers to reduce their costs, create jobs and make products more affordable.

Using the example of shoemaking in Aba, Atiku said government could either spend public funds to make imported shoes cheaper or support local shoemakers to reduce their production costs.

“I choose the Aba shoemaker,” he said.

Atiku said the same approach would be applied to petroleum products by supporting crude oil refined in Nigeria so that domestic refineries could produce fuel at lower costs.

He added that the objective of the policy went beyond reducing petrol prices, saying it would also help bring down transportation costs, reduce the cost of moving food from farms to markets and lower energy expenses for small businesses.

“I want the bus fare you pay every morning to come down. I want the cost of taking food from the farm to the market to come down,” he said.

“I want the trader to spend less. I want the barber, tailor, welder and small business owner to spend less on energy.”

The former vice president said the ultimate goal was to increase the amount of money Nigerians have left after meeting their daily expenses.

“I want a mother to return from the market with more food in her bag. I want a father to pay transport and still have something left in his pocket,” he said.

Atiku also stressed that the policy was intended to provide direct relief to Nigerian families, particularly women who combine household responsibilities with small businesses.

Responding to a message of prayer from a supporter identified as Khadijat, Atiku urged Nigerians to help explain his production subsidy proposal to their communities.

He said cheaper fuel would reduce transportation costs, lower the cost of goods and make it easier for women to run small businesses and provide for their families.

“That is what my production subsidy is about: support what we refine here, create jobs here, reduce the cost of fuel here, and make everyday life more affordable for Nigerian families,” Atiku said.

He concluded by promising to pursue policies aimed at making life more affordable for Nigerians.

“My promise is personal: I want you to feel relief in your pocket, in your home and in your daily life,” he said.

“I will make life affordable again. I will make Nigeria affordable again. It is a promise.”