The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has defended its plan to reintroduce fuel subsidies if elected in 2027, arguing that Nigerians are too poor to bear the full burden of petrol prices determined entirely by market forces.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he explained the party’s position on fuel pricing and the rising cost of living.
Abdullahi said the party’s presidential candidate, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, believed the government had a responsibility to intervene when economic policies placed excessive pressure on citizens.
“The most important point is that, the ADC and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar are saying that Nigerians are too poor to be left to market forces. We cannot have people so poor and leave them without subsidy. So, we (ADC) are going to subsidize production,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria’s status as a crude oil-producing country should enable the government to explore ways of lowering fuel production costs and delivering more affordable petroleum products to consumers.
According to him, the party intends to focus on subsidizing production rather than leaving Nigerians entirely exposed to fluctuations in market prices.
Using a wartime analogy, Abdullahi maintained that the government should prioritize citizens’ welfare and security when making economic decisions.
He added that policies that fail to improve the living conditions of the population should be reconsidered.
The ADC’s position comes amid continuing public concern over petrol prices, transportation costs and the wider effects of economic reforms introduced by the Federal Government.
Fuel subsidy removal was one of the major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2023. The policy ended the previous system of government support that kept petrol prices below their market-based levels.
The ADC says its proposed approach would make fuel more affordable if it wins the 2027 presidential election. However, the party’s proposal would require further details on funding, implementation and how the government would manage the potential fiscal cost.
#ADC #AtikuAbubakar #FuelSubsidy #PetrolPrice #2027Elections #NigeriaPolitics #CostOfLiving #NigeriaEconomy #NigeriaNews #OnPointGist
