Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar challenged President Bola Tinubu over the administration’s rejection of his proposed fuel subsidy intervention, arguing that Nigeria’s economic reforms have placed a heavy burden on households while government revenues have increased.
The exchange has opened another sharp political front between the two leading figures as Nigeria moves deeper into the 2027 election cycle, with petrol pricing, government revenues and the wider cost-of-living crisis emerging as major campaign issues.
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Tinubu had criticised Atiku’s proposal to restore or redesign petrol subsidy, describing the position as a demonstration of “serious ignorance on governance and economy”.
Atiku has now rejected that assessment, insisting that his proposal is not a return to the former open-ended subsidy system.
According to Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the proposed arrangement would be targeted, capped, budgeted and independently audited, with the primary objective of supporting domestic petroleum production rather than subsidising imported fuel.
“The real ignorance is believing suffering is economic policy,” Atiku said in his response, accusing the Tinubu administration of removing relief from consumers without adequately addressing the consequences of the reform.
Atiku argued that the economic conditions facing Nigerians have changed substantially since Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023.
The policy was followed by a significant rise in petrol prices, transportation costs and the prices of many essential goods.
The Tinubu administration, however, has consistently defended the decision, maintaining that the subsidy had become financially unsustainable and that its removal was necessary to redirect public resources towards development.
The government has also pointed to stronger revenues and increased allocations to state governments as some of the benefits of the reform.
Reuters reported this week that Tinubu’s economic programme, including subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms, has been welcomed by some investors but has also contributed to severe economic pressure and public dissatisfaction.
Atiku disputes the idea that increased government revenue alone demonstrates economic success.
He argued that higher allocations to states would mean little if ordinary Nigerians continued to experience declining purchasing power and rising living costs.
The former vice president has also questioned the management of revenues generated following the subsidy removal.
On August 19, Atiku demanded a comprehensive account of federation revenues, deductions, savings and transfers, saying figures available to him raised questions about the management of roughly ₦28tn as of June 2026.
The latest dispute follows Atiku’s announcement that he would restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.
He has argued that the intervention should focus on supporting Nigerian refineries and lowering energy costs rather than recreating the previous import-based system.
Under the model subsequently outlined by his camp, qualifying domestic refineries would receive crude at preferential prices under strict conditions intended to ensure that consumers benefit from lower production costs.
The proposal has already attracted criticism from the Presidency and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga accused Atiku of reversing his earlier position on subsidy removal, while APC spokesperson Felix Morka described the latest pledge as politically motivated and questioned its economic sustainability.
The criticism also highlights Atiku’s changing political position on the issue.
Before the 2023 election, Atiku had supported the removal of petrol subsidy, although he had proposed implementing the policy within his first 100 days if elected.
Atiku now says the circumstances have changed and that economic policy must respond to prevailing realities rather than remain fixed.
The dispute is particularly significant because the subsidy debate is unfolding as political parties and candidates begin positioning themselves for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
The election season officially entered a new phase this week, with Tinubu seeking a second term and Atiku emerging as one of the principal opposition challengers.
Reuters reported that economic hardship, falling purchasing power and insecurity are likely to be central issues in the contest.
For Tinubu, defending the subsidy removal remains an important part of his economic reform narrative.
For Atiku, the argument provides an opportunity to present an alternative approach centred on reducing the immediate pressure on consumers while encouraging domestic refining.
The disagreement therefore goes beyond the question of petrol prices.
It reflects a wider contest over how Nigeria should balance fiscal discipline, industrial production and the immediate welfare of citizens.
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As the 2027 political contest gathers momentum, the fuel subsidy debate is likely to remain one of the most consequential and closely watched economic issues, particularly as Nigerians continue to assess whether the benefits of reform are reaching households.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
