ATIKU SAYS FUEL MARKETERS’ PLEA EXPOSES WEAKNESS IN TINUBU’S SUBSIDY POLICY

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has renewed his criticism of the Federal Government’s decision to remove petrol subsidies, arguing that the recent appeal by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria for intervention over rising fuel prices has exposed weaknesses in the administration’s position.

Atiku said IPMAN’s call for government action was evidence that the consequences of the subsidy removal were becoming increasingly difficult for fuel marketers and consumers to absorb. He argued that the development had undermined the argument that eliminating the subsidy would, by itself, produce broad economic benefits for Nigerians.

The ADC presidential candidate made the remarks while reacting to IPMAN’s appeal for measures to prevent further increases in petrol prices. The association had raised concerns over developments in the downstream petroleum market and called for government intervention to prevent additional pressure on consumers and businesses.

Atiku used the development to restate his position that the government’s handling of petrol pricing had imposed significant hardship on citizens. He maintained that Nigerians had continued to face high transportation and living costs since the subsidy was removed, while the expected benefits of the policy had not been sufficiently reflected in household incomes and purchasing power.

The former vice president has previously made the restoration of petrol subsidy a major part of his economic argument ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He has said that, if elected, he would return to a subsidy arrangement, insisting that Nigeria has sufficient resources to provide welfare support to its citizens. He later clarified that this remained his personal policy position after one of his media aides issued a statement that appeared to contradict him.

Atiku has also accused the Tinubu administration of potentially considering a return of subsidy through alternative measures ahead of the 2027 election. He described such a possibility as politically motivated, although he did not provide evidence for the claim and said only that his team had received what he termed credible intelligence.

The former vice president’s latest comments form part of an increasingly prominent political debate over the economic consequences of petrol subsidy removal. President Bola Tinubu has consistently defended the policy as a necessary step to address the financial burden associated with subsidy payments and redirect public resources towards other areas of the economy.

However, Atiku has argued that the savings associated with subsidy removal should be assessed against the wider economic conditions confronting Nigerians. In earlier criticism of the administration, he said government revenues had increased while the purchasing power of citizens had deteriorated, arguing that higher public revenue alone should not be presented as evidence of improved economic welfare.

The debate is likely to remain a major issue ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly as political parties and presidential candidates develop competing proposals for dealing with fuel prices, inflation and the broader cost-of-living crisis.

Atiku’s intervention also places renewed attention on IPMAN’s position, as the association represents a significant segment of Nigeria’s independent petroleum marketers. Its call for government intervention suggests that the challenges surrounding petrol pricing are affecting not only motorists and households but also businesses operating within the downstream petroleum sector.

With petrol prices continuing to influence transportation, logistics and the prices of goods and services, disagreements over the appropriate government response are expected to remain at the centre of Nigeria’s economic and political discussions. For Atiku, the latest concerns raised by petroleum marketers provide further support for his argument that the current approach requires a rethink.