Former Minister of Transportation and vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has stated that an Atiku Abubakar-led government will bring down the cost of transportation, fuel, and food within one year of assuming office. He made this statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, discussing the state of the nation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Amaechi expressed concerns about the current hardship faced by Nigerians following the removal of fuel and electricity subsidies by the Tinubu government.
According to Amaechi, Nigerians are struggling to afford basic necessities, with people unable to buy fuel or travel due to high costs. The airlines are also threatening to increase transportation costs, further exacerbating the situation. He accused President Tinubu of failing to keep promises on power supply, stating that the president had promised to deliver on this issue but has not done so. Amaechi emphasized that Nigerians are waiting to vote out the current administration.
Amaechi highlighted that the ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to restore subsidy support to ease the burden on Nigerians. Atiku plans to bring back the subsidy, which Amaechi believes will lead to a decrease in costs. Citing his personal experience, Amaechi mentioned that his electricity bill increased from N500,000 to N4 million after the removal of subsidies. He argued that the removal of petrol subsidy triggered the current cost of living crisis.
The former Rivers State governor stated that if elected, the ADC government will introduce a production subsidy, differing from the consumer subsidy previously in place. Amaechi emphasized that Atiku’s promise to bring back subsidies will lead to a decrease in costs. He also discussed the issue of education, stating that the number of out-of-school children has risen sharply under the Tinubu administration, from 12 million to 20 million.
Amaechi expressed concern about the worsening insecurity in the country, which has prevented farmers from accessing their farms. He stated that the number of illiterate Nigerians now stands at 92 million. According to Amaechi, he is contesting in the 2027 election because he understands Nigeria’s problems and believes he can solve them.
Amaechi maintained that if the ADC is on the ballot in 2027, President Tinubu will lose the election. He expressed confidence in the ADC’s chances, stating that they will be a formidable force in the election.
Key to the ADC’s plans is the reintroduction of subsidies to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. Three key points emerge from Amaechi’s statement: the ADC plans to bring down costs of transportation, fuel, and food; the party will introduce a production subsidy if elected; and they are confident of winning the 2027 election.
Key points
- The ADC plans to reduce costs of transportation, fuel, and food within a year if elected.
- The party will introduce a production subsidy to support Nigerians.
- Amaechi is confident that the ADC will be a strong contender in the 2027 election.
