Atiku’s Plan Is Not to Restore Old Petrol Subsidy — Okonkwo
Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the 2027 presidential campaign of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has clarified that Atiku’s proposal to make petrol more affordable for Nigerians is not a plan to restore the former petrol subsidy regime.
Okonkwo made the clarification while speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, explaining that the central objective of Atiku’s proposal is to reduce the cost of petrol so that Nigerians can purchase it at a more affordable price.
He also argued that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had misunderstood Atiku’s proposal when he suggested that the former vice president was seeking to bring back the old subsidy system.
Atiku had said that if elected president in 2027, his administration would work to ensure that petrol is available at a price Nigerians can afford. The statement generated considerable debate, particularly because Atiku had supported the removal of petrol subsidy during the 2023 presidential campaign.
What Is the Atiku Fuel Affordability Plan?
Okonkwo said Atiku's proposal, which he described as the Atiku Fuel Affordability Plan (AFAP), is fundamentally different from the previous subsidy system.
According to him, the proposal is centred on ensuring that domestic refineries have access to crude oil at an appropriate price so that they can produce petrol at a lower cost.
He explained that reducing the cost at which domestic refineries obtain crude oil could help bring down their production costs. This, in turn, could make petrol more affordable for consumers.
Okonkwo argued that the approach would focus on strengthening Nigeria's domestic refining capacity rather than returning to the previous system, under which the country relied heavily on imported petrol and government subsidies to keep pump prices lower.
Why Atiku Opposes the Old Subsidy System
Okonkwo said the previous subsidy arrangement became increasingly problematic because Nigeria depended heavily on imported refined petroleum products while domestic refineries were not operating at the required capacity.
He argued that this dependence placed a significant financial burden on the government and also created opportunities for irregularities in the importation and pricing of petroleum products.
According to him, Atiku's proposal is therefore intended to address the underlying problems in the petroleum sector rather than simply revive the old subsidy arrangement.
He maintained that a system based on domestic refining would help Nigeria reduce its dependence on imported petrol while creating a more sustainable way of lowering pump prices.
Tinubu and Atiku Disagree Over Petrol Policy
The clarification comes amid an ongoing political debate over the future of petrol pricing in Nigeria.
The Tinubu administration has maintained that the removal of petrol subsidy was necessary because the previous system placed a heavy financial burden on the country and was difficult to sustain.
Atiku, however, has argued that the government must find ways to reduce the impact of high petrol prices on ordinary Nigerians.
His proposal has therefore focused on making petrol more affordable while also improving domestic refining and reducing production costs.
Okonkwo stressed that this should not be interpreted as a return to the old subsidy model.
Focus on Domestic Refineries
A major component of the proposed plan is greater use of Nigeria's domestic refining capacity.
Okonkwo said the government should ensure that local refineries have access to crude oil under conditions that allow them to produce petroleum products competitively.
He argued that if domestic refineries can obtain crude at a reasonable cost and operate efficiently, the resulting reduction in production expenses could eventually be reflected in petrol prices.
The approach, he suggested, would also reduce Nigeria's dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
The Political Debate Ahead of 2027
The issue of petrol pricing has become one of the major economic and political issues likely to feature prominently ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For many Nigerians, the debate is closely connected to the rising cost of transportation, food and other essential goods.
Atiku's camp is presenting its proposal as an alternative approach that could make petrol more affordable without returning to the previous subsidy regime.
The government and its supporters, meanwhile, continue to defend the decision to remove the subsidy and argue that Nigeria needs to move toward a more sustainable petroleum pricing system.
Okonkwo: No Return to the Old Subsidy
Okonkwo's central message was that Atiku's proposal should not be confused with the subsidy system that existed before its removal.
He said the Atiku Fuel Affordability Plan is intended to use Nigeria's domestic refining capacity and access to crude oil to reduce the cost of producing petrol.
In his view, the ultimate goal is to make petrol more affordable for Nigerians while addressing some of the structural weaknesses that previously affected the petroleum sector.
“Atiku is not seeking to restore the old petrol subsidy regime,” Okonkwo said in essence, stressing that the proposed plan is focused on domestic refining, lower production costs and making petrol more affordable for Nigerians.