The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC) has asked African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to provide details on his proposed fuel subsidy plan for locally refined petroleum products. In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, the Council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, said Atiku’s proposal raised questions over how government support to domestic refiners would translate into lower pump prices under the existing petroleum-sector framework. The council seeks clarification on the plan's legal, fiscal, and operational framework.
Atiku Abubakar, the ADC flagbearer and former vice president, has been advocating for targeted support for locally refined petroleum products. However, the APC PCC said his proposal requires more details to understand its implications. The council asked Atiku to clarify whether refiners receiving the proposed subsidy would be required to sell petrol at prescribed prices and identify the legal framework for such conditions. This would help determine how the plan would operate consistently with the Petroleum Industry Act.
The APC PCC also requested Atiku to disclose the projected cost of the proposal, its annual spending ceiling, funding source, volume covered, and safeguards against diversion, smuggling, and fraudulent claims. The council noted that any proposal involving preferentially priced crude for domestic refineries could affect revenue accruing to the federation and should, therefore, be transparently costed. This would ensure that the plan does not negatively impact the country's finances.
Furthermore, the APC PCC asked whether amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would be required to implement the proposed intervention, noting that appropriation alone might not resolve regulatory questions. The council also recalled Atiku's previous advocacy for downstream deregulation and removal of petrol subsidy, which he described as fraudulent in 2022. Atiku had pledged to complete its removal but later said he would restore it.
The APC PCC questioned how Atiku's proposed intervention would differ from the former subsidy regime and how it would prevent abuses associated with subsidy payments. Abubakar's position has been presented by his campaign as a targeted intervention for domestic production rather than a return to the former import-subsidy system. The council seeks to understand the differences between the two plans and how the new proposal would be implemented.
In contrast, the Tinubu administration has focused on expanding CNG and electric mass transit as lower-cost alternatives, citing reductions already recorded on some routes. More than 120,000 vehicles have been converted to CNG, while the federal government is working with states and transport stakeholders to expand conversion capacity and supporting infrastructure. This approach aims to reduce transportation costs and provide alternative energy sources.
The APC PCC urged Atiku to provide Nigerians with a detailed policy document and independent legal and fiscal analysis of his proposal, saying the electorate deserved clarity on its implications before the 2027 election. The council emphasized that every intervention in the downstream sector should be lawful, transparent, properly costed, and capable of delivering measurable benefits to consumers.
Key points
- APC PCC challenges Atiku Abubakar to clarify fuel subsidy plan for locally refined petroleum products
- Atiku's proposal requires details on its legal, fiscal, and operational framework
- The plan's implications on the country's finances and revenue need to be transparently costed
