The All Progressives Congress (APC) warns that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s plan to reinstate the petrol (fuel) subsidy, if elected in 2027, could reverse recent economic gains. APC national chairman Nentawe Yilwatda says the policy would likely bring back fuel queues and worsen fiscal conditions that affect wages and other public spending.
Across the reports, Yilwatda argues that although subsidy may lower pump prices, it also raises questions about who pays for it and what programmes government would have to cut to fund it. He links the potential return of subsidy to possible threats to state finances, including paying salaries and pensions, and to funding for education and other services. The reports also note that APC frames subsidy as an expensive and potentially unsustainable approach compared with maintaining revenue stability.
The outlets also acknowledge that reactions are mixed: some supporters of Atiku’s proposal say it could ease hardship for citizens, while critics emphasize fiscal risk and long-term economic impact. The central difference in coverage is largely the emphasis—one report highlights broad impacts on sectors such as education and wages, while another focuses more directly on queues and minimum-wage affordability.
