Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to restore Nigeria’s fuel subsidy regime if elected president in 2027.

The former Vice President, who initially supported the removal of the subsidy, said his position had changed after assessing the impact of the policy on Nigerians and the economy.

Atiku questioned how the savings generated from the subsidy removal had been utilised, demanding greater transparency from the Federal Government.

“I initially did not oppose the removal of the fuel subsidy. But now that it has been removed, where is the money?” Atiku asked during a social media interview.

He also questioned whether the funds saved from the policy had been channelled into critical sectors such as healthcare, education and security.

“Has it been used to improve healthcare, education or security?” he asked.

President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, describing the scheme as unsustainable.

However, Atiku said he would reverse the policy if elected in the January 2027 presidential election.

“If I win the presidential election, I will restore the subsidy. And anyone who stole Nigeria’s subsidy funds must return the money,” he declared.

The former Vice President’s position is expected to make fuel subsidy a major issue in the 2027 presidential contest, as political parties present competing economic policies to voters.

The Tinubu administration has consistently defended the subsidy removal, arguing that the previous regime imposed an unsustainable financial burden on the government and diverted resources that could have been used for development.

Tinubu has maintained that his administration inherited significant fiscal challenges, including what he described as an unsustainable subsidy regime, and that its removal was necessary to stabilise the economy.

The Federal Government has also cited increased allocations to states, higher revenues and infrastructure investments as some of the benefits of its economic reforms.

Atiku, however, has continued to demand an account of the savings and revenues generated following the subsidy removal, insisting that Nigerians deserve greater transparency over how the funds have been spent.

The ADC candidate is expected to face President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and other contenders in the 2027 presidential election.