Tinubu's aide rejects Atiku's fuel subsidy return, cites N1.5tn monthly cost
President Bola Tinubu’s media aide, Kabeer Bello Abdul’aziz, has dismissed former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar’s pledge to restore fuel subsidy if elected in 2027, calling the idea impracticable and financially unsustainable. Abdul’aziz said that under current consumption levels, reinstating the subsidy would require at least N1.5 trillion every month, questioning where the government would obtain such funds. He argued that the previous subsidy regime was a financial haemorrhage that drained about N1 trillion from government coffers, and ending it stopped the leakage rather than creating a pool of spare cash. "Money that would have gone to subsidy has been repurposed to finance critical government institutions, projects and the functioning of the state itself," he added. Abdul’aziz acknowledged that Nigerians may not yet feel the benefits of the reform, noting that economic changes often take time before their impact becomes evident. He pointed to the expanded student loan scheme—which provides tuition and upkeep support for families with children in tertiary institutions—as one way the government is easing financial pressure on households. The remarks come amid renewed debate over Nigeria’s fuel subsidy policy, with Atiku signalling a possible review or restoration should he win the 2027 presidential election.