By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has opposed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027, describing the promise as “deception” and warning that it could further disrupt Nigeria’s economy.
Sani made the remarks at a press conference in Abuja, where he argued that Nigeria could not afford to return to a subsidy system that had cost the country trillions of naira and created opportunities for corruption and fuel smuggling.
He said the priority should instead be the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries and the expansion of domestic crude oil refining capacity.
According to the former senator, Nigeria had spent between N3 trillion and N4 trillion on petroleum subsidy, a situation he described as unsustainable for an oil-producing nation.
“I don’t think any candidate that is worthy of leadership should pull us back to that era,” Sani said.
He alleged that the former subsidy system was exploited by some individuals who diverted public funds through questionable petroleum import arrangements.
Sani also said subsidised fuel was often smuggled into neighbouring countries, where it was sold at higher prices. He said such activities denied Nigerians the intended benefits of the subsidy programme.
He questioned the logic of exporting crude oil, importing refined petroleum products and then using the country’s scarce foreign exchange to subsidise those imports.
“If any politician makes pledges of revamping our refineries so that we can be able to refine our own crude oil, then he’s making sense,” he said.
“But a politician that has been in the economic field for a very long time telling us that the way forward for us as an oil-producing country is to continue to import all petroleum products and again use our own foreign currency to subsidise it for our people to consume, for how long can we continue to do that?”
Sani acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidy had increased the economic pressure on Nigerians. However, he maintained that restoring the former arrangement would not provide a lasting solution.
“The return of subsidy will not bring down the prices of commodities. It will simply distort the economic stability of our country,” he said.
He called on the Federal Government to make the ongoing economic reforms more responsive to the difficulties faced by ordinary Nigerians.
Sani said Nigerians should not be left to bear the effects of economic reforms while political leaders continued to maintain extravagant lifestyles. He advocated a reduction in the size and cost of government, as well as sacrifices from both the executive and legislative arms of government.
The former senator also pointed to the Dangote Refinery as evidence of the opportunities available through local petroleum refining. He questioned why Nigeria should continue to import refined products despite the establishment of a major refinery through private investment.
“We should not just talk about importing petroleum products,” he said, stressing that Nigeria could not attain meaningful economic independence if it continued to export raw materials and import finished goods.
Sani Calls For Issue-Based 2027 Campaign
Sani also addressed the 2027 general elections, urging political parties and candidates to base their campaigns on policies, programmes and the issues that affect Nigerians.
He cautioned against the use of ethnic, religious and sectional sentiments as political weapons, warning that such tactics could weaken national unity and stability.
“At this time of our country’s life, we should assess, analyse, and elect leaders based on what they stand for and what they can deliver for us as a country,” he said.
The former senator criticised opposition politicians who seek foreign support or intervention in Nigeria’s political affairs. He said political parties should rely on Nigerian voters rather than seek endorsement from foreign governments and institutions.
Sani said Nigeria’s democracy had survived several periods of political crisis and expressed confidence that the 2027 elections could be transparent and credible.
He, however, raised concern over what he described as pessimistic predictions about Nigeria’s future ahead of the election. He urged political actors to place the country’s unity and stability above personal political ambitions.
On the presidential contest, Sani said he supported the emergence of a southern candidate, arguing that political power should rotate among the country’s various regions.
He said such an arrangement would reflect Nigeria’s diversity and promote political balance. However, he acknowledged that regional rotation was not a constitutional requirement but a political understanding that could contribute to national stability.
Sani also expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid while urging opposition parties to consider fielding a southern candidate in the 2027 presidential election.
He warned politicians against viewing elections as a matter of survival and urged them to accept electoral outcomes without actions that could threaten the country’s unity.
“The country doesn’t have to fall because you lose elections. The country doesn’t have to scatter into pieces because you lose elections,” he said.
Sani said Nigeria’s large population and diverse ethnic and religious composition placed a responsibility on political leaders to manage disagreements with caution and avoid actions that could endanger peace and national stability.
