The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to publicly debate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to reintroduce petrol subsidy, insisting that Nigerians deserve to hear both sides of the argument.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the call on Friday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he defended the party’s position on fuel subsidy and dismissed criticism from the Presidency and APC.
Abdullahi said the ADC was prepared to engage the ruling party in a public debate over whether government should provide relief to Nigerians through some form of petrol subsidy.
“They say they dare not say they will return the subsidy. Now we are saying we will return the subsidy. Let us debate it in front of Nigerians,” he said.
He argued that subsidies remained common in several countries, stressing that Nigeria could adopt a model that targets those who genuinely need assistance rather than maintaining a blanket subsidy at the pump.
According to him, the absence of a reliable social register has made it difficult for Nigeria to implement direct or means-tested subsidies, but other options remain available.
“There is something called decoupled subsidy and targeted subsidy. Means-tested subsidy for those who need it,” Abdullahi said, adding that some countries provide support based on income levels.
He also defended Atiku’s proposal for a production subsidy, saying the approach could reduce the cost of production and eventually lower petrol prices without returning to the previous system of subsidising fuel imports.
Abdullahi cited countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Argentina and Saudi Arabia as examples of nations that support production in different forms.
He maintained that any new subsidy arrangement must eliminate the opportunities for arbitrage and corruption that characterised Nigeria’s previous petrol subsidy regime.
The ADC spokesman also called for a review of provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act(PIA) that prevent the government from cushioning the effect of rising energy costs on citizens.
“For God’s sake, the law is made for the people. People are not made for the law,” he said, arguing that legislation should be revisited if its consequences leave Nigerians without adequate protection from market pressures.
His comments followed renewed controversy over Atiku’s pledge to restore a form of petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.
The former vice president, who is the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, had on Wednesday proposed replacing Nigeria’s former import-subsidy model with what he described as a targeted, capped and transparently budgeted production subsidy.
Atiku later reiterated the position through his media aide, Phrank Shuaibu, saying the proposed arrangement would be independently audited and designed to reduce energy costs while encouraging domestic refining.
The Presidency, however, has rejected the proposal. Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku’s position as a reversal that was driven by political ambition.
In a statement titled: “Restoring Petrol Subsidies: Atiku’s Volte-Face and Desperation for Power,” Onanuga argued that bringing back petrol subsidies would be retrogressive and could return Nigeria to a financially unsustainable system.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, also criticised Atiku’s proposal, questioning his consistency and defending the Tinubu administration’s decision to remove the subsidy.
The subsidy debate has remained one of the most contentious issues surrounding the Tinubu administration since the president announced its removal in May 2023.
Tinubu, Atiku and Peter Obi had all supported subsidy removal in principle during the 2023 presidential campaign, describing the existing system as prone to corruption.
