2027: Atiku’s Subsidy Plan Could Push Petrol Price to ₦4,000 Per Litre – APC Chieftain

A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has warned that the proposed return of fuel subsidy by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, could push petrol prices to ₦4,000 per litre.

Kwankwaso argued that reversing the removal of petrol subsidy could impose a significant financial burden on the Federal Government and worsen the country’s economic challenges.

He said the policy could place additional pressure on public finances, potentially affecting the government’s ability to pay workers’ salaries, fund education and healthcare, meet pension obligations and execute infrastructure projects.

The APC chieftain maintained that the removal of fuel subsidy under President Bola Tinubu had eased pressure on government finances, allowing federal and state governments to meet their financial obligations and pursue development programmes.

According to him, Nigerians should consider the potential cost of restoring subsidy before accepting proposals presented by opposition politicians as solutions to the country’s economic difficulties.

Kwankwaso also warned that a return to the previous subsidy arrangement could revive fuel queues and create further difficulties for the government in meeting its financial commitments.

He urged Nigerians to assess the funding implications of Atiku’s proposal, arguing that any policy aimed at reducing petrol prices must explain how the government would finance it without undermining other essential public services.

The APC chieftain further defended Tinubu’s economic policies, claiming that the administration had improved the country’s foreign reserves and strengthened the ability of governments at different levels to fund projects.

He cited ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and major road construction linking Kano with Abuja and Maiduguri, as examples of government spending under the current administration.

Kwankwaso called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s government rather than return to policies he associated with previous administrations.

Atiku has pledged to introduce a subsidy model focused on supporting fuel produced by domestic refineries, including modular refineries, with the stated aim of lowering production costs and making petrol more affordable.

The ADC candidate has said his proposal would be capped, budgeted and independently audited, with imported petrol excluded from the arrangement. His campaign has also maintained that any support should translate into lower pump prices for consumers.

However, the precise cost of the proposed policy and its likely impact on retail prices remain dependent on implementation details, including the level of support, eligible production volumes and the mechanism for passing savings to consumers.

Kwankwaso’s ₦4,000-per-litre warning represents his assessment of the possible consequences of restoring subsidy; it was not presented as an independently verified price forecast.

The disagreement has intensified the debate between the APC and opposition parties over fuel pricing, public spending and how best to ease the cost-of-living pressures facing Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election.