Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his promise to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.
Wike accused Atiku of changing his position on subsidy removal for political reasons, recalling that the former vice president had previously promised to remove the subsidy if elected.
The minister spoke on Thursday in Abuja while inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT.
Wike questioned how Atiku intended to restore a subsidy regime he had previously described as fraudulent.
“Now, in 2026, he is not going to remove the fuel subsidy. Is he going back to the fraud, which he had alleged that fuel subsidy was?” Wike asked.
He described Atiku as a “voodoo economist” who, in his view, says whatever he believes will appeal to voters.
“Atiku, who is confused, who acts like a voodoo economist, Atiku will say anything just to be president,” he said.
Wike argued that consistency was essential for anyone seeking to lead the country, accusing Atiku of changing his position depending on the political circumstances.
“Leadership is not you coming out, you say one thing now in the morning, in the afternoon you say a different thing, in the night you are talking of a different thing. That is not it,” he said.
Wike questions feasibility of subsidy return
The FCT minister also questioned how a future government would operate a petrol subsidy under Nigeria’s current petroleum industry structure.
He pointed to the commercialisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the emergence of private refineries, particularly the Dangote Refinery.
According to Wike, NNPCL is no longer the sole importer or producer of petroleum products, making the traditional subsidy arrangement more complicated.
“He is living in the past. If not, he will know that with the Petroleum Industry Act, NNPC is now fully commercialised. It has transformed the old NNPC into a limited liability company (NNPC Limited), and no longer the sole importer or producer of fuel,” he said.
Wike asked whether a government led by Atiku would subsidise petrol produced by private refiners.
“Will Atiku, as President (which he never be) pay subsidy on fuel produced by Dangote Refinery?” he asked.
He argued that restoring fuel subsidies would reverse the market-oriented reforms introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act and could discourage investment in the petroleum sector.
According to him, government-controlled fuel prices could create regulatory uncertainty and revive problems associated with the former subsidy regime, including smuggling, arbitrage, inefficiency and opaque fiscal practices.
Wike maintained that instead of promising to restore the subsidy, Atiku should explain how he would deploy the savings generated from its removal if he still supports the policy.
“All I thought he would have argued, ‘Yes, I still believe in the removal of fuel subsidy, and I think that the savings made would have been utilised in this way or that way,’” he said.
Wike defends Tinubu’s subsidy policy
The minister defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the subsidy, arguing that the resulting savings had increased allocations to the federal, state and local governments.
He challenged the different tiers of government to account for how they had used the additional funds.
Wike also said the increased revenues had helped governments meet salary and pension obligations.
“Nobody talks about non-payment of pension, nobody talks about non-payment of salary. Before, for you to pay salary, you would beg and beg the banks to give you money. But all those things are things of the past,” he said.
‘Tinubu is only leading candidate for 2027’
Wike also dismissed suggestions that Atiku was among the leading contenders for the 2027 presidency.
“I disagree with you that Atiku is one of the leading candidates,” he told journalists. “You have only one leading candidate, and that’s Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.”
He argued that the opposition lacked the unity required to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the opposition was stronger during the 2023 election than it is currently.
“That’s why I say that 2027 is gone. It’s gone because you don’t have an opposition that want to wrestle power from the government,” he said.
Wike rejects claims of rising Abuja robbery
The FCT minister also rejected claims that armed robbery had increased in Abuja, saying security reports did not support such a conclusion.
While acknowledging isolated criminal incidents, he said security agencies were responding to them.
“I disagree with you that there are more armed robbery cases,” Wike said.
He disclosed that the Department of State Services had tracked an individual allegedly impersonating security personnel and using fake materials to harass residents.
“I’m not saying there are no one or two incidents of crime, but to say the armed robbery has increased in Abuja, I don’t agree,” he said.
Wike praises FCT infrastructure projects
Speaking on the projects inspected during his visit, Wike expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and said several major projects were expected to be completed before the end of the year.
He described some of the projects as major interventions capable of transforming parts of the capital city.
Wike also said construction around the Mpape bypass and Garki axis had helped reclaim land previously affected by a gully.
“We are satisfied with what we have seen. We’re very impressed that the promises made to our people are being fulfilled. Again, it’s what the whole agenda is all about,” he said.
The minister also declined responsibility for complaints about the performance of some Area Council chairmen, saying they were elected by residents of their respective councils.
“They are the people who elected them. They should ask them. I am not their—I did not appoint them, they were elected,” Wike said.
He, however, acknowledged that some councils might have areas requiring improvement, noting that he had previously served as a council chairman.
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