Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has distanced himself from comments by his media aide, Paul Ibe, on petrol subsidy, insisting that his own position remains unchanged ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, said if elected, he would restore a targeted fuel subsidy to cushion Nigerians from the rising cost of transportation, food and other essential goods.
He made the clarification on Tuesday while receiving the Osun State leadership of the ADC in Abuja.
Ibe had said during an interview with African Independent Television that Atiku would restore the subsidy if elected president but would gradually withdraw it after the economy recovered.
Rejecting that explanation, Atiku said his aide had spoken independently and not on his behalf.
“Earlier, one of my press aides contradicted me in a policy statement as far as subsidy is concerned. I want to repeat categorically that when I said I would return to subsidy, I will,” Atiku said.
He maintained that Nigeria had sufficient resources to provide relief to citizens facing economic hardship.
In a statement shared on his X account, the former vice president said his proposed subsidy policy was intended to protect household purchasing power rather than sustain what he described as an import-dependent system.
“On the question of subsidy, my position has not changed and will not change: I will restore it,” he said.
Atiku argued that economic strength should not be judged solely by government revenue but by what citizens can afford with their incomes.
He said his administration would seek to improve the value of wages, lower the cost of moving agricultural produce and create conditions that would enable businesses to expand and employ more workers.
According to him, rising petrol prices have had a cascading effect on the economy, pushing up transportation costs and, consequently, the prices of food and other commodities.
“When fuel rises, transport rises. When transport rises, food rises. When food rises, families suffer,” he said.
Atiku said his proposed intervention would be targeted at easing the burden on Nigerians while encouraging domestic production and reducing energy costs.
“I will not restore the import racket; I will restore relief,” he said.
The ADC candidate also promised to prioritise economic and physical security, saying his broader objective was to make everyday life more affordable and improve the purchasing power of Nigerians.
“I will make the naira in your pocket worth more, make daily living affordable again, and secure our people,” he said.
He added that his administration would pursue “economic security, physical security” and a better quality of life for Nigerians.
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