Some residents of Jigawa State have thrown their support behind former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s promise to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, saying the current policy has worsened hardship across the country. For many, the Atiku fuel subsidy proposal represents hope for relief from rising costs.
According to The Punch, residents who spoke in Dutse on Friday said rising fuel prices had increased transport fares, food costs and operating expenses for small businesses, leaving many households struggling to cope. Clearly, the Atiku fuel subsidy debate has become a topic of urgent concern among local people.
Residents lament rising living costs
The reactions followed Atiku’s declaration during his first media engagement after the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku argued that removing petrol subsidy had failed ordinary Nigerians and pledged to reverse the policy if elected. The Atiku fuel subsidy argument has ignited widespread discussion nationwide.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently rejected the proposal, criticising the idea of returning to the subsidy regime and defending his administration’s economic reforms.
However, some Jigawa residents who reacted to the debate said the benefits promised after the subsidy removal had yet to reflect in their daily lives.
Commercial drivers, traders speak out
A commercial driver at Dutse Central Motor Park said the sharp rise in petrol prices had made it increasingly difficult for operators and passengers to afford transportation.
A foodstuff trader also complained that customers were buying less because disposable income had fallen while the cost of transporting goods continued to rise.
Other residents argued that fuel prices affect almost every part of the Nigerian economy, including food production, transportation, electricity generation and small businesses.
Subsidy debate gathers political momentum
The disagreement between Atiku and Tinubu has brought petrol subsidy back to the centre of political discussion ahead of the 2027 election. Moreover, the Atiku fuel subsidy issue appears set to remain a central theme in the coming campaign.
Tinubu removed the subsidy shortly after assuming office in 2023, arguing that the system had become financially unsustainable and that the money could be redirected towards other areas of development.
Atiku has taken a different position, maintaining that the impact of the policy on poorer Nigerians makes a rethink necessary.
With both men presenting sharply different economic approaches, the subsidy question is emerging as one of the issues likely to shape debate as the 2027 presidential campaign gathers momentum.
