Subsidy: Atiku will sign fuel price contract with Nigerians — Ralph Nwosu

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, has said the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will sign a formal contract with Nigerians detailing the exact cost of petrol by May 29, 2027, if elected president.

Nwosu, a former national chairman of the ADC, stated this on Arise Television’s Daybreak on Thursday while discussing Atiku’s plan to restore fuel subsidy.

Atiku has repeatedly maintained that he would reinstate the fuel subsidy if elected president.

He argued that the removal of the subsidy under President Bola Tinubu has placed a heavy burden on Nigerians through higher transportation costs, rising food prices and increased household expenses.

Speaking on the development, Nwosu said the former vice-president’s campaign would provide Nigerians with specific details of how the policy would be implemented, including the expected price of petrol.

According to him, Atiku would make a clear commitment to Nigerians before assuming office.

“Atiku will sign a contract. We will soon launch our campaign proper. We are just beginning the bonfire,” Nwosu said.

He added that the proposed agreement would contain specific commitments on the price of fuel and other aspects of Atiku’s economic programme.

“We will soon launch it, and Atiku will sign a contract with the Nigerian people.

“And in signing that contract, he will tell them specifically that by May 29th, this will be the cost of fuel and this is how it will go,” he said.

Nwosu said the ADC was already working on the policies Atiku would implement in the early months of his administration if elected.

He disclosed that the campaign team was preparing a programme for the first 100 days in office, saying the process was intended to ensure that the candidate’s promises were backed by clearly defined plans.

“Atiku’s campaign is already sitting down to work on his first 100th day in office, so that we don’t go ahead making reckless statements,” he said.

Atiku has argued that Nigeria, given its natural resources, can afford to provide relief to citizens while pursuing broader economic reforms.

The former vice-president has also promised to address economic and physical insecurity if elected in 2027.

The debate over fuel subsidy has emerged as a major issue ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly following the removal of the subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023.

While the Tinubu administration has defended the removal as necessary to reform the economy, Atiku has maintained that a targeted intervention is needed to cushion Nigerians from the resulting economic pressures.