Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has criticised former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his promise to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027.
Sani described Atiku’s pledge as impracticable and questioned what he described as a major shift in the former vice president’s position on the removal of fuel subsidy.
Speaking with journalists, Sani said Atiku had previously supported the removal of subsidy and other economic policies associated with institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
According to the former lawmaker, Atiku’s promise to bring back the subsidy should not be taken at face value, arguing that it appeared to be politically motivated as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election.
Sani said restoring the subsidy could place additional pressure on the country’s finances, especially at a time when a significant portion of government revenue is being used for debt servicing.
He also recalled concerns surrounding the previous subsidy regime, saying it created opportunities for fraud and the smuggling of subsidised petroleum products across Nigeria’s borders.
Sani further argued that the removal of fuel subsidy had increased the resources available to state and local governments for development projects, including roads, schools and hospitals.
Rather than promising to restore the subsidy, he urged political leaders seeking office in 2027 to focus on more sustainable solutions, particularly the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries and increased domestic refining of crude oil.
He maintained that refining more petroleum products locally would be a more realistic approach to addressing fuel-related challenges in the country.
Sani also rejected the argument that the return of fuel subsidy would automatically reduce the prices of goods and ease the cost of living, warning that such a move could create further economic instability.
However, Atiku had defended his promise to restore the subsidy, arguing that Nigerians had not seen enough benefits from the removal of the policy. The former vice president questioned how the funds saved from subsidy removal had been utilised and said the resources should have been used to improve areas such as education, security and poverty reduction.
The disagreement has further brought the fuel subsidy debate to the centre of political discussions ahead of the 2027 general election, with the issue expected to remain a major talking point because of its impact on transportation costs, inflation and the cost of living.
