Atiku Abubakar explains why he wants to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Atiku explained that while he did not oppose the initial removal of the subsidy, he questions what has happened to the funds saved from the policy. He believes these funds should have been used to improve the welfare of Nigerians, reduce poverty, support education, and address insecurity and youth unemployment. Atiku alleged that the government has not demonstrated how the resources generated from the subsidy removal have been utilized, suggesting they may have been misappropriated.

He argued that if the money had been used for development, security, education, and creating opportunities for youth, the outcome would be different. Atiku reiterated that his objection is not to the subsidy removal itself, but to the perceived failure to use the resulting resources to benefit Nigerians. He pledged that if elected, he would restore the subsidy and ensure that any stolen funds are recovered and properly utilized for national development.