The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to strengthen the naira, restore targeted fuel subsidies and improve the living conditions of Nigerians if elected president in the 2027 general elections.
Atiku made the promise while reaffirming his position on fuel subsidy, insisting that his stance on the controversial policy had remained unchanged.
The former vice president, in a post on X, said Nigeria had sufficient resources to reduce the economic hardship faced by citizens and ensure that wages, businesses and household incomes retained greater purchasing power.
“Regarding the subsidy issue, my stance hasn’t changed and won’t change: I will bring it back,” Atiku stated.
He argued that Nigeria’s economic strength should not be measured only by the amount of revenue available to the government, but also by the purchasing power of citizens and their ability to afford basic necessities.
“A country that’s so fortunate doesn’t have any reason to leave its people struggling through difficult times,” he said.
According to Atiku, restoring targeted subsidies would form part of a broader economic strategy aimed at easing pressure on households and businesses without necessarily returning to the previous subsidy regime in its entirety.
He said his priority would be to ensure that Nigerians could derive greater value from their incomes while reducing the cost of essential economic activities.
“I think a country’s wealth isn’t about how much money the government takes, but about how much the people can buy with the money they have,” he said.
The ADC candidate also highlighted the challenges facing workers, farmers and businesses, saying his administration would pursue policies designed to improve purchasing power and reduce production and transportation costs.
“I want wages to have value again. I want farmers to move their crops without the cost of transportation taking away their profits,” Atiku said.
He added that his government would seek to create an environment where families could afford food and other necessities without exhausting their incomes.
“I want families to fill their baskets without spending all their money. I want businesses to create products, hire people, and grow successfully,” he stated.
Atiku further pledged to improve the value of the naira and make everyday living more affordable for Nigerians.
“I will make the naira in your pocket more valuable, make everyday life more affordable again, and protect our people,” he said.
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He listed economic security and physical security among the priorities of the administration he hopes to lead, saying his ultimate objective was to improve the quality of life of Nigerians.
“Economic security. Physical security. A better life for every Nigerian. That is the Nigeria I want to build,” Atiku added.
His latest comments come amid renewed political debate over the removal of fuel subsidy and its impact on the cost of living.
Fuel subsidy was removed by President Bola Tinubu shortly after his inauguration in May 2023, with the Federal Government arguing that the policy had become financially unsustainable and that the funds could be redirected towards development and social programmes.
However, the policy has remained a major political and economic issue, with opposition figures arguing that the resulting increase in fuel and transportation costs has intensified pressure on households and businesses.
Atiku has maintained that the subsidy regime should be reviewed and targeted in a manner that reduces the burden on Nigerians while addressing inefficiencies associated with the former system.
With the 2027 election approaching, the issue is expected to remain central to political debates as parties and candidates present competing economic proposals to voters.