Atiku not proposing return to old fuel subsidy racket – Aide

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu has said the former vice president is not proposing a return to the old fuel import subsidy racket.

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‎Shaibu explained that Atiku is proposing a targeted, capped and audited subsidy for domestic production.

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‎In a Facebook live session, Atiku had pledged to restore the fuel subsidy regime if elected president in 2027.

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‎Reacting, media personality, Rufai Oseni, wrote: “President Tinubu once fought against subsidy removal. He wrote an article calling it Jonathan’s tax.

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‎“Today, he’s condemning Atiku for saying he will bring back subsidies.

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‎“How is Atiku different from President Tinubu who fought and protested against subsidies?”

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‎Providing further clarification, Atiku’s aide, Shaibu posted on X: “The issue isn’t simply ‘subsidy or no subsidy.’ It is what kind of subsidy, who benefits, and how it is administered.

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‎“Atiku is not proposing a return to the old import-subsidy racket. He is proposing a targeted, capped and auditable subsidy for domestic production: supporting Nigerian refining, not foreign imports and middlemen.

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‎“So the real debate should be:

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‎“Do we subsidise imports and consumption, or strategically support Nigerian production and jobs? Those are two fundamentally different economic choices.”

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