Obi, Sowore Reject Atiku’s Proposed Fuel Subsidy Return as Debate Intensifies
- Repoter 11
- 25 Aug, 2026
Presidential hopefuls Peter Obi and Omoyele Sowore have disagreed with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to introduce a new petrol subsidy framework if elected president in 2027.
Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Obi maintained that the removal of petrol subsidy was necessary, but faulted successive governments for failing to properly manage and invest the savings generated from the policy.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress said poor management of subsidy savings should not be used as justification for reversing its removal. He argued that the proceeds ought to have been channelled into productive sectors and measures designed to cushion the effect of the policy on Nigerians.
Obi said he had anticipated the need for a structured subsidy-removal process and had outlined such an approach in his manifesto during the 2023 presidential election.
Also speaking at the conference, African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, rejected a return to the former subsidy arrangement but argued that the current policy had benefited government officials and wealthy Nigerians more than ordinary citizens.
Sowore questioned the beneficiaries of subsidy removal, particularly pointing to state governments and governors who have received increased allocations following the policy.
He argued that the fuel subsidy debate should not be separated from transportation policy, stressing that petrol remains a major component of the cost of living for millions of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) called for a temporary and transparent petrol subsidy to reduce the hardship caused by rising fuel prices and the worsening cost of living.
The organisation also demanded that the Federal Government publish a detailed account of the savings generated from subsidy removal and explain how the funds have been spent.
However, some government supporters have warned that returning to subsidy could further increase pressure on the nation’s finances. They argued that restoring the policy without addressing its structural weaknesses could worsen Nigeria’s fiscal challenges.
In another development, Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential campaign, clarified that Atiku’s proposal was not a plan to revive the old petrol subsidy regime.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Okonkwo described the proposal as the Atiku Fuel Affordability Plan, saying it would focus on expanding domestic refining and making crude oil available to local refineries at affordable prices.
According to him, the objective is to reduce the cost of production and ultimately make petrol cheaper for Nigerian consumers rather than return to the former system that relied heavily on imported fuel.
Okonkwo argued that Nigeria’s previous subsidy arrangement became vulnerable to corruption because the country depended almost entirely on imported petrol, creating opportunities for manipulation of import volumes and prices.
He maintained that Atiku’s proposal would instead prioritise domestic refining, affordable crude supply and increased local fuel production.
The contrasting positions have further intensified the national debate over petrol pricing, subsidy removal, government accountability and how best to make fuel affordable to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
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