NANS DON Reject Atiku Fuel Subsidy Plan, Dem Call for Sustainable Economic Reforms Before 2027

Report by Musa Antiketu, | Journalist for Obaland magazine.

Di National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) don reject di proposal wey former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar bring to restore fuel subsidy if him win president for 2027, dem argue say di policy fit bring back di fiscal pressure and structural weakness wey dey follow di former subsidy system.

NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, make di position clear for statement wey him release on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, him talk say to just return to subsidy without proper structural framework na political response to real economic wahala.

Di students’ body sabi say di removal of petrol subsidy don put serious economic pressure on Nigerians, especially through higher fuel, transportation and food costs. But Afeez argue say to reverse di reform without solving di underlying problems wey make di subsidy system hard to maintain no go give better solution to Nigeria economic challenges.

According to NANS, di previous subsidy arrangement don chop plenty public resources, e dey benefit people wey dey use plenty fuel, e dey encourage smuggling and e don reduce di government capacity to invest well for critical sectors. Di association therefore dey urge policymakers to focus on long-term economic restructuring instead of measures wey just dey meant to give immediate relief.

Atiku dey maintain him subsidy position

Atiku don dey defend him proposal well well, him talk say him go restore one kind targeted subsidy to ease di cost-of-living burden on households and businesses if him win president for 2027.

On Tuesday, di former vice president don confirm say him position no change after one of him media aides suggest say future administration fit restore di subsidy temporarily before dem go phase am out as economic conditions improve.

Atiku later distance himself from dat talk, him insist say him go restore di subsidy while him dey maintain say di intervention go dey targeted instead of returning to di former import-dependent arrangement.

Him communication team don further explain say di proposed intervention go get limit, e go dey budgeted transparently and audited independently, with support wey go dey directed towards domestic refining and production. Di team talk say di intervention go gradually become unnecessary as domestic refining capacity dey expand, fuel supply dey become more stable and competition dey improve.

NANS dey urge make dem focus on wetin go happen to subsidy savings

NANS talk say their objection no mean say dem dey dismiss di hardship wey Nigerians dey face.

Afeez acknowledge say subsidy removal don create serious short-term wahala but him argue say di government must show say di resources wey dem free by di reform dey used well to improve citizens’ welfare.

Di association call for stronger investment for education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and other sectors wey fit turn economic reforms to real improvements for living standards.

Di NANS position also dey reflect bigger debate over whether Nigeria suppose prioritize direct fuel-price intervention or continue with market-oriented petroleum reforms while dem dey use targeted social and economic programmes to support vulnerable households.

Subsidy debate don take center stage before 2027

Di wahala don come as fuel pricing and di wider cost-of-living crisis dey feature more for political discussions before di 2027 presidential election.

President Bola Tinubu don remove di petrol subsidy for him inauguration on May 29, 2023. Di decision don contribute to sharp rise for petrol prices and increase transportation and household costs, while di Federal Government don continue to defend di reform as necessary to reduce fiscal pressure and reshape di petroleum sector.

Atiku proposal don attract criticism from di Presidency and other political actors, wey don question how dem go finance di renewed subsidy and whether e go fit work with di structural changes wey dem don introduce for di petroleum sector.

Atiku, however, dey maintain say him proposed intervention dey meant to reduce energy and transportation costs, support domestic production and restore purchasing power instead of bringing back wetin him camp dey call di old import-subsidy system.

For NANS, di main issue na whether political promises fit provide sustainable solutions to Nigeria economic difficulties. Di association don urge presidential aspirants to present detailed and financially credible policies wey go address both immediate hardship and di structural weaknesses of di Nigerian economy.

Di student body also don appeal to Atiku to reconsider him position, argue say Nigeria no fit afford to commit large public resources to fuel subsidies while infrastructure, education, healthcare and other essential sectors still dey require serious investment.

As di 2027 political contest dey gather momentum, di subsidy debate go likely remain major test of competing economic visions. For Nigerians, di critical question fit no just be whether fuel prices fit reduce, but how any proposed intervention go be funded, administered and sustained without creating another long-term burden on public finances.