Atiku Pledges Targeted Fuel Subsidy, Hails Warm Ondo ADC Reception
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday renewed his commitment to a targeted fuel subsidy designed to support petrol refined inside Nigeria, as he received a warm welcome in Ondo State while welcoming new members into the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement posted on his official X account, Atiku said his “People First” agenda is gathering momentum across the country.
At the heart of the agenda, he explained, is a firm commitment to make life affordable again for Nigerian families.
That includes restoring a fuel subsidy—not the old import-dependent system, but a production subsidy that supports fuel refined in Nigeria, strengthens domestic production, and is designed to reduce the price Nigerians pay at the pump.
“When fuel becomes more affordable, transportation costs can ease. The cost of moving food from farms to markets can come down. Small businesses can breathe again. Families can keep more of their hard-earned money,” Atiku said.
He described the purpose of the People First policy as putting the welfare of Nigerians at the centre of government.
His message, he stressed, remains clear: produce here, refine here, create Nigerian jobs, lower the cost of fuel, and make life affordable again.
The former vice president described the reception he received in Ondo State as “tremendous” and “deeply encouraging.”
The event marked the formal welcome of new members into the ADC, including the defection of former Ondo PDP governorship candidate Eyitayo Jegede and his supporters.
Atiku has consistently distinguished his proposal from the previous subsidy regime. He has maintained that only refineries processing crude in Nigeria would qualify for the support, with safeguards such as spending limits, transparency measures, independent verification, and audits. Imported fuel, foreign refineries, and middlemen would be excluded.
The visit to Akure comes as the ADC continues to expand its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku used the occasion to urge Nigerians to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress, arguing that the current administration has deepened economic hardship.
Supporters at the Ondo event responded with clear enthusiasm. For Atiku, the reception signalled growing acceptance of a message centered on affordability, local production, and the everyday welfare of Nigerian families.
The debate over fuel subsidy remains one of the most contested issues in the run-up to 2027. Atiku’s latest remarks reinforce his position that a carefully designed production subsidy, tied strictly to domestic refining, offers a practical path to lower pump prices without returning to the problems associated with the old import-based system.
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