Nigeria’s Presidency has stated that opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has no concrete plan to restore the fuel subsidy if elected in the 2027 general elections. President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, made the disclosure on Thursday, dismissing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader’s campaign promises as empty rhetoric.
The controversy follows comments made by Atiku’s spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, during an appearance on Arise Television’s *Prime Time* program. Okonkwo argued that because the current administration removed the subsidy without a detailed plan, it could similarly be restored without one. He stated, “If the entire subsidy was removed without any plan, subsidy can be restored without any plan.”
Bwala reacted to these remarks by characterizing them as populist rhetoric. In a post on the social media platform X, the presidential aide mocked the opposition’s stance, writing: “Hear @Atiku plan to restore subsidy, lol we told you there is no plan, it’s just a populist rhetoric.”
The fuel subsidy issue has been a central point of contention in the ongoing 2027 election campaign, with Atiku frequently outlining his intention to reinstate the scheme. The subsidy regime was officially ended by President Tinubu during his inauguration in Abuja in 2023.
At the time of the removal, the President justified the decision by asserting that the policy change would halt the exploitation of the system by corrupt groups. He further argued that the funds previously allocated to the subsidy would be redirected toward more beneficial uses for the nation.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
