Real reason I want to restore subsidy — Atiku

Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has explained his decision to restore petrol subsidy if elected in 2027, saying he did not oppose its removal but accuses the Tinubu administration of failing to account for the trillions saved from the policy.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa published on Friday, as reported by The Punch, Atiku said: “I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go?” He alleged the funds — which the government claims amount to over N15 trillion in savings — had not been deployed for poverty reduction, education or youth empowerment as intended.

“It seems they are just stealing it,” he alleged, questioning what happened to the “30 trillion” he referenced. “The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went.”

Atiku said proper application of the subsidy savings could have funded security, education and a $10 billion youth empowerment programme he proposed during the 2023 election campaign.