Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has stated that Nigerians favour the restoration of petrol subsidy and want relief from the hardship caused by rising fuel and transportation costs.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the assertion in a statement issued on Tuesday by Phrank Shaibu, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication.
Atiku cited the latest SBM Intelligence Voter Sentiment Tracker, which surveyed 1,103 eligible voters across 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory, covering the six geopolitical zones.
He cited the survey as finding that 67.4 per cent of respondents rejected the Federal Government’s current petrol pricing policy, while 19.2 per cent supported it. He said the finding represented widespread dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s fuel policy and should prompt President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his administration’s approach.
“This survey is no longer merely about economic policy. It has become a democratic question,” Atiku said.
“When an overwhelming majority of Nigerians declare that a government policy is destroying their lives, responsible leadership must listen.”
The former Vice-President said the survey identified petrol as the second-most cited national problem and the Tinubu administration’s worst-rated policy issue, with a score of 1.69 out of four. The SBM report puts petrol as the second-most cited national problem at 18.2 per cent and the administration’s lowest-rated issue at 1.69 out of four.
He said the findings reflected the difficulties faced by families, workers, farmers and businesses as fuel and transportation costs continue to rise.
“This survey is not merely about percentages. It is the collective cry of Nigerian families who can no longer afford food, workers whose salaries disappear on transportation, farmers who cannot move their produce to market and businesses collapsing under the weight of fuel and energy costs,” he said.
Atiku said Nigerians had endured higher transportation costs, rising food prices, declining purchasing power and deeper economic hardship since the removal of petrol subsidy.
“The survey simply confirms what Nigerians already know: Tinubu’s fuel policy has caused far more harm than good,” he stated.
The ADC presidential candidate also cited regional figures from the survey, saying 32.4 per cent of rural respondents identified petrol as their primary concern, compared with 11.7 per cent of urban respondents. He said petrol was also the leading concern in the South-West, at 30.5 per cent, and the South-South, at 29.1 per cent.
According to Atiku, the figures showed that concerns over fuel prices extend across different parts of the country.
“President Tinubu removed subsidy with a slogan, not a strategy. He had no credible plan for domestic refining, mass transportation, wage protection or the millions of small businesses that depend on affordable energy,” he said.
Atiku said the government had ignored warnings about the likely effects of higher petrol prices on purchasing power, transportation costs and food inflation.
Atiku reiterated his proposal for a transparent production subsidy tied specifically to petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians.
“If elected, from May 29, 2027, I will introduce a transparent production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians. Imports will not qualify,” he said.
He said the proposed programme would have a fixed spending limit, National Assembly approval and independent audits.
According to him, the policy would be aimed at reducing petrol prices, strengthening domestic refining, creating jobs and restoring purchasing power.
The latest SBM survey itself cautioned that its findings represent a snapshot of stated sentiment among the respondents and do not adjust for historical voter turnout, population projections or INEC voter-registration figures.
