Atiku Abubakar's fuel subsidy proposal criticized as a return to corruption
Aminullah Mustapha, an All Progressives Congress chieftain and petroleum marketer in Kebbi State, has criticized Atiku Abubakar's proposal to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027. Mustapha argued that reintroducing the subsidy would lead Nigeria back to a system he described as wasteful, opaque, and vulnerable to abuse. He stated that his experience in the petroleum business provided insight into the former subsidy regime, alleging that billions of naira were lost through fraudulent claims, diversion of petroleum products, and payments to entities that failed to deliver. Mustapha also claimed that some petroleum products financed under the subsidy scheme were diverted to neighboring countries like Niger Republic and Benin Republic. He further alleged that some depot owners were paid for imported petroleum products before they arrived in the country, with some reportedly failing to deliver the products. Mustapha praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's removal of the subsidy as a bold decision to end these alleged leakages and urged Nigerians to critically examine proposals to restore it, advocating instead for policies that strengthen domestic refining, improve transparency, reduce import dependence, and provide targeted relief to citizens.
