Tinubu

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has acknowledged that economic reforms introduced by the Bola Tinubu administration have contributed to the cost-of-living difficulties faced by Nigerians.

Bagudu, however, maintained that the government would continue with the reforms, which he said were necessary to improve public finances, stabilise the economy and create conditions for long-term growth.

The minister made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the Federal Appointees Strategic Summit on the presentation and review of budget implementation by ministries, departments and agencies.

According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on Wednesday, Bagudu recognised the impact of the reforms and external economic pressures on households.

“He acknowledged that the reforms, along with international economic pressures, had contributed to cost-of-living challenges and other pressures facing citizens, but maintained that the administration remained focused on achieving long-term economic stability and inclusive growth,” the ministry said.

The Tinubu administration’s major economic measures include the removal of the petrol subsidy and reforms to the foreign exchange market, both introduced after the President assumed office in May 2023.

Bagudu said the measures were introduced amid serious economic challenges, although the government did not foresee the extent of the subsequent global economic turbulence.

He also pointed to international uncertainties, conflicts, trade disruptions and tariff pressures as factors that have affected food prices and living costs.

Despite the difficulties experienced by households, the minister said the reforms had improved the fiscal position of the Federal Government, states and local governments by increasing the resources available to the three tiers of government.

According to him, the increased revenue available to states and local councils reflected the administration’s push for greater fiscal federalism and stronger capacity at the subnational level.

“Rather than keeping additional revenues at the centre, the President has taken the position that we should give local governments and states more money and energise everyone so that we can interrogate and fulfil our responsibilities,” he was quoted as saying.

Bagudu also said the Federal Government had addressed some outstanding financial obligations owed to states as part of efforts to strengthen the federation and improve public service delivery.

He recalled that some states had previously faced difficulties paying workers’ salaries even when international crude oil prices were relatively high, with limited funds available for infrastructure and other essential services.

The minister said the improved financial position of states should allow them to devote more resources to infrastructure, education, security and other responsibilities assigned to them by the Constitution.

On Nigeria’s broader economic performance, Bagudu said some indicators were showing improvement, including the country’s revenue-to-GDP ratio.

He also defended the administration’s tax reforms, saying their objective was to make revenue collection more efficient rather than place unnecessary financial pressure on Nigerians.

The minister nevertheless said the government’s progress so far was not enough, noting that President Tinubu had continued to demand better results from members of his administration.

Bagudu said the government was also working to increase domestic production and ensure that improvements in macroeconomic indicators translate into better living conditions, particularly for people at the grassroots.

He added that the National Economic Council had considered measures that states could adopt to increase domestic production and expand the benefits of the reforms.

The minister also restated the administration’s target of growing Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion by 2030.

He described the target as ambitious but achievable, stressing the importance of implementing the necessary components of the 2026–2030 National Development Plan.

Bagudu further urged federal appointees to understand government policies and communicate the administration’s reforms and achievements more effectively to Nigerians, particularly at the grassroots.

He also rejected claims that federal spending was designed to benefit particular regions of the country.

According to him, major areas of government expenditure, including security, infrastructure and livelihood programmes, are intended to serve national interests and address the needs of citizens across the country.

He said security spending supports communities affected by insecurity, while infrastructure projects are aimed at improving connectivity and promoting economic activity nationwide.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1 under the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, pointing to existing compressed natural gas and electric transport schemes that have already cut fares in several states.

In a State House press statement on September 19, 2026, Tinubu said the objective was agreed with the 36 state governors on August 27, after which an implementation committee was established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

He said the committee, PI-CNG & EV, the states and other stakeholders were already working to identify priority transport corridors, determine appropriate interventions and put necessary arrangements in place.

“From October 1, more Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs,” the President said, adding that the work had become more urgent amid the current global energy crisis.

Tinubu said there was already evidence across Nigeria that cheaper energy could translate into cheaper transportation.

In Borno, he said CNG-powered and electric public transport services were moving commuters for between ₦50 and ₦100 on routes where commercial operators charge between ₦300 and ₦600.

In Kaduna, 100 CNG-powered buses are providing free transportation on major routes. In their first year, the buses carried about 3.2 million passengers and saved commuters more than ₦3.5 billion, according to the President.

In Oyo, CNG buses deployed to Pacesetter Transport brought the Lagos–Ibadan fare down from about ₦8,000 to ₦3,200 during initial deployment, while Adamawa’s alternative-energy transit services cut fares by as much as 50 per cent, from ₦8,000 to ₦4,000.

In Enugu, where 100 CNG buses have been deployed, the Enugu–Nsukka fare has fallen from ₦2,500 to ₦1,500. In Plateau, government-supported buses carry about 13,000 commuters daily at ₦200, compared with more than ₦500 commercially.

Tinubu also said the partnership with the NURTW had given passengers on CNG-converted commercial vehicles on several Abuja routes a 40 per cent fare reduction. Area 1 to Gwagwalada dropped from ₦1,500 to ₦900; Nyanya from ₦700 to ₦420; and Wuse from ₦400 to ₦240.

In Niger State, passengers on the Suleja–Abuja service pay ₦550 compared with about ₦800, while Abia has deployed 40 electric buses with fares subsidised by 50 per cent.

“These are not projections. Nigerians are already experiencing these savings,” Tinubu said.

He commended governors and state governments that had moved quickly, but said more still needed to be done, pledging Federal Government support for further scaling.

The President said disruptions to global energy supplies were again pressuring petrol and diesel prices and increasing transportation costs worldwide. Nigeria, he said, cannot control global energy markets, but as a gas-rich nation it can reduce its exposure.

He said his administration had spent the last three years deliberately investing in a CNG transportation ecosystem. More than 120,000 vehicles have been converted, with over 400 certified conversion centres and more than 90 CNG refuelling stations nationwide, and the figures are increasing daily.

Tinubu rejected suggestions that Nigeria should return to the petrol subsidy regime, describing it as ruinous and saying it consumed trillions of naira and left the economy exposed to international oil price movements.

“We must accelerate the cheaper alternatives we have been building at home,” he said.

He noted that Edo already has 50 CNG buses in active service; Kano has converted more than 1,000 commercial vehicles while expanding its conversion and refuelling network; Delta, Kwara and Lagos are expanding CNG-supported transport services; and Akwa Ibom has taken delivery of 50 CNG buses ahead of commercial operations.

The President urged every state to maintain momentum towards October 1, work with transport unions and commercial operators, support conversion and fleet deployment, facilitate required infrastructure, and ensure savings from cheaper energy reach citizens through lower fares.

“The Federal Government will continue to support the scaling of CNG infrastructure and access, expand conversion capacity, and create the enabling environment for states, transport operators, manufacturers and private investors to participate,” he said.

“Nigeria has the gas. We are building the infrastructure. We are already seeing the savings. Now we must move faster and scale this so more Nigerians feel those savings in the fares they pay every day.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the Federal Government’s plan to end electricity subsidies from 2027.

Atiku made the appeal in a video address on Friday while discussing the rising cost of living, government interventions and increasing energy costs across Nigeria.

The Federal Government has said it intends to phase out electricity subsidies from 2027 as part of efforts to tackle accumulated financial obligations in the power sector and create a more sustainable electricity market.

Power Minister, Joseph Tegbe, said the government was developing measures to protect vulnerable electricity consumers from the impact of the reforms.

However, Atiku argued that removing the subsidy without first easing the financial pressure on households and businesses could further deepen the economic difficulties faced by Nigerians.

He said government measures such as food distribution and cash transfers could offer temporary relief but would not address the underlying causes of rising living costs.

“A bag of rice cannot repair an economy in which transportation costs outrun salaries,” Atiku said.

“A cash transfer cannot permanently compensate a worker for whose income is continually eroded by energy costs. Palliatives manage pain. Good policy addresses the source of the pain.”

The former vice president said Nigerians were already dealing with significant economic pressure, adding that the proposed electricity subsidy withdrawal could introduce another burden.

“And as if the pressure on families were not enough, Nigerians are now being told that electricity subsidies will be phased out in 2027,” he said.

Atiku maintained that electricity bills were already placing considerable pressure on households and businesses.

“Electricity is already expensive. Families are calculating how long their units will last,” he said.

“Small businesses are struggling to keep the lights on. Manufacturers are spending enormous amounts on electricity, diesel, and alternative power simply to keep factories running.”

He listed several businesses that rely heavily on electricity and could be affected by further increases in energy costs.

“The barber needs electricity for his clippers. The tailor needs it for her machines. The frozen food seller needs it to preserve her stock. The welder needs it for his equipment. The manufacturer needs it to keep the factory alive,” Atiku said.

The ADC presidential candidate also urged the administration to learn from the consequences of the removal of petrol subsidies before implementing another major energy reform.

“The lesson of petrol must not be repeated with electricity,” he said.

“Do not remove first and think later. Do not impose the pain first and search for palliatives afterwards.”

The planned withdrawal of electricity subsidies comes as the government seeks to address the financial difficulties within the power sector.

Tegbe said in July that the government was working towards ending electricity subsidy payments in 2027 while addressing an estimated ₦3.3 trillion in legacy debt within the electricity market.

Atiku urged Tinubu to devote the remaining period of his administration to measures that could reduce the financial pressure on Nigerians.

He also cautioned the government against treating the period before the 2027 general election as too short to make a difference in the lives of citizens.

“Eight months may sound short inside Aso Rock, but eight months is a very long time when you are living from hand to mouth,” he said.

“Use that time to reduce burden on Nigerians, please.”

Despite their political differences, Atiku said he was willing to share policy proposals with the Federal Government if they could help ease the difficulties facing Nigerians.

“And if your government requires policy ideas or technical input on how to bring relief, I am prepared to make mine available,” he said.

“Nigerians do not have to wait for another administration before they benefit from an idea that can help them today.”

He added: “If you need the framework, I will provide it. Implement it under your government. Give it whatever name you choose. Take the credit.”

Atiku said political competition between him and Tinubu should not come ahead of the interests of Nigerians.

“I ask for only one thing. Let Nigerians breathe,” he said.

“I am prepared to compete with you politically, but I will never compete with the welfare of the Nigerian people.”

The comments come as discussions over the future of energy subsidies continue ahead of the 2027 general elections. Atiku has also expressed support for restoring petrol subsidies if elected president, a position that has drawn criticism from the Tinubu administration and other commentators.

While the Federal Government maintains that electricity subsidies are no longer financially sustainable and that reforms are necessary to strengthen the power sector, Atiku is calling for a transition that would not place additional pressure on households and businesses.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Presidency has challenged the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, to honour his pledge to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if claims that he left Anambra State with outstanding financial liabilities are established.

The challenge was issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, in a post on X on Wednesday. It followed a fresh exchange between Obi and the Anambra State Government over the financial position of the state when he left office as governor in 2014.

Onanuga said Obi had previously claimed that he handed over Anambra without debt and had also pledged to stop his presidential campaign if evidence emerged to the contrary.

“Peter Obi claimed he left Anambra with a clean slate of debt and even threatened to quit the presidential race if his claims were proven otherwise.”

He said the Anambra State Government had now presented what it described as records of liabilities linked to Obi’s tenure.

“Now, the Anambra government has confronted him with facts and figures showing he owed Water Corporation workers, teachers, and pension and gratuities, and had also borrowed for frivolous things,” Onanuga said.

“The ball is back in his court. Will he follow through on his threat by quitting the race?” he asked.

The latest development came after the Anambra Government disputed Obi’s response to allegations that his administration left behind debts and other financial obligations.

Obi had maintained that his administration cleared more than ₦35bn in historical gratuities and arrears before leaving office. He also rejected claims that the state owed salaries, pensions, gratuities or contractors for duly completed and certified projects.

One of the major points of disagreement concerns an alleged ₦2.13bn ecological fund. Obi said the money was left untouched in a First Bank account for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.

The Anambra Government, however, disputed the description of the account and the amount claimed. Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, said a certified statement obtained by the government showed that the account was an Internally Generated Revenue Consolidated Revenue Account rather than an ecological fund account.

Mefor said, “We have obtained a certified printout of the account from inception to date. The account is an Internally Generated Revenue Consolidated Revenue Account, not an ecological fund account.”

He further stated, “From 2011 when the account was opened until date, there has never been any such amount—whether as inflow or balance—in the account.”

The state government also disputed Obi’s account of outstanding loans and arrears. According to Mefor, eight external loans remained after Obi left office, with their combined balance put at ₦127.4bn as of June 30, 2026, at the official exchange rate.

The loans listed by the government relate to projects in areas such as healthcare, education, erosion control, agriculture and community development.

The government also said it had addressed inherited gratuity arrears and alleged outstanding salary obligations involving some workers, including retired teachers and former Water Corporation employees.

On the Water Corporation workers, Mefor said, “salary arrears lingered through the Obi administration and were eventually settled under the Soludo administration, with the first two of three instalments already paid.”

He also said, “The Obi administration verified/certified 16 months of salary arrears for primary school teachers but paid only five months.”

The state government further questioned Obi’s claim that his administration left more than ₦75bn in savings.

Mefor said, “We will not engage in nebulous creative accounting. If there were ₦75 billion in savings, as claimed, where are the records?”

Obi, however, has challenged anyone who can establish that his account of Anambra’s finances was incorrect.

“If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning,” Obi said.

The dispute has therefore shifted from competing statements about Anambra’s finances to a demand for supporting records, with Obi and the state government maintaining different accounts of the state’s financial position at the end of his administration.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over their opposition to the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike described the APC governors as “politically lazy” during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday.

The former Rivers State governor was responding to the governors’ position against his political activities and their opposition to alliances that could affect President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Wike maintained that his support for Tinubu did not amount to abandoning his political party or preventing other political parties from presenting candidates for elections.

The APC governors, led by their chairman, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, had stated that they would neither participate in, support nor endorse any alliance that could undermine Tinubu’s re-election or affect APC candidates at any level.

Reacting to the position, Wike said, “They are politically lazy. When you have your local problems, don’t use Mr President as your excuse.”

The FCT minister also argued that disagreements over his political activities predated his decision to support Tinubu. He recalled that he faced opposition during his tenure as governor of Rivers State and later after his appointment as FCT minister.

“This thing did not start today. It started at a ministerial position. They were not happy that I was Minister of FCT. Also, they were unhappy when I was governor,” he added.

Wike further said those criticising his political activities might have a different understanding of his decisions if they had access to the information available to him.

He maintained that his understanding of the political situation was based on information that his critics did not have access to.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the Federal Government over the rising cost of petrol, following the latest increase in the pump price to N1,470 per litre.

Atiku, through his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, said the development had added to the economic pressure confronting Nigerians, especially as higher fuel prices continue to affect transportation, food and other household expenses.

The former vice president also challenged the government to explain how the savings from the removal of the petrol subsidy have been used to cushion the impact of rising living costs.

According to him, Nigerians who have endured the effects of subsidy removal deserve to know what has happened to the funds saved by the government.

He said, “Petrol at N1,470 per litre is not merely a figure at the filling station. It enters the price of transportation, food, school runs, farming, manufacturing and virtually everything Nigerians buy. Every increase at the pump travels directly into the household budget.

“After all the pain imposed on Nigerians, they have a right to ask: where are the subsidy savings and where is the money?”

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, also compared the current petrol price with the situation in 2008, when crude oil prices were significantly higher but petrol sold at a much lower price under the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

“With crude oil around $102.52 per barrel, Nigerians are paying as much as N1,470 per litre. In 2008, when crude oil reached about $147 per barrel, petrol sold at N65 per litre under the Yar’Adua administration. The difference is that government then understood that economic policy must ultimately protect the welfare of citizens,” he stressed.

The latest increase in petrol prices has continued to raise concerns over its wider effect on the cost of living, with transportation operators, businesses and households facing higher operating and daily expenses.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

More than 600 senior academics from public universities across Northern Nigeria have declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election, Daily Trust reported.

The endorsement was announced after a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, in Kaduna.

The meeting, held behind closed doors at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Centre, brought together academics and several political leaders from the region.

Those present included Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

Also in attendance were Minister of Defence Bello Matawalle, Minister of Housing Muttaqha Rabe Darma and former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari.

According to a source at the meeting, representatives of most public universities across the 19 northern states participated in the discussions.

The Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University, Prof Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, represented academics from the North-West, while the Chief Librarian of the Federal University Lafia, Prof Abdulrazaq Baba Abdulrahman, spoke for the North-Central zone.

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Agriculture, Gwoza, represented the North-East.

However, Prof Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi of Bayero University, Kano, denied attending the meeting when contacted. He said he was not even aware of the gathering.

The Vice Chancellors of several federal universities in the North were also said to have attended.

Academics Assess Tinubu’s Performance

Prof Musa, who read the communiqué issued after the meeting, said the academics examined the performance of the Tinubu administration since May 2023.

He said their assessment covered the economy, security, education, politics and social conditions, with particular attention to the situation in Northern Nigeria.

According to him, the academics recognised that Tinubu inherited serious fiscal, monetary and structural problems, alongside insecurity, infrastructure deficits and gaps in human capital.

They also acknowledged that some of the government’s reforms had increased economic pressure on citizens.

“While these reforms have imposed substantial short-term hardship through higher living and transportation costs and inflationary pressures, we also acknowledge that they have altered government revenues and public finance,” they said.

The academics, however, said the administration had recorded progress in education financing, agriculture, infrastructure, business support, compressed natural gas, investment and the digital economy.

At the end of their deliberations, they declared: “We resolved to express our support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the 2027 presidential election.”

They stressed that their endorsement should not be interpreted as unconditional support.

“Our support should not be interpreted as a blank check,” they said.

They called on the Federal Government to listen to citizens, respond to legitimate criticism and address the rising costs of food and transportation, unemployment and insecurity.

The academics also advocated a broader security strategy that would combine military operations with intelligence gathering, effective policing, community engagement and economic opportunities.

They further urged increased investment in agriculture, education, healthcare, roads, electricity, irrigation and other critical infrastructure across Northern Nigeria.

Meeting Was Designed To Mobilise Support

The invitation to the meeting showed that securing the active backing of senior academics for Tinubu’s re-election was one of its principal objectives.

The event was described as an “interactive session of senior academics from Northern Nigeria and selected government functionaries” under the theme: “Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda: Three Years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Achievements and the Road to 2027.”

The organisers listed two main objectives: assessing the administration’s record in the economy, security, education, infrastructure and social welfare, and to “secure the endorsement and active support of the academic community for the re-election of Mr President in the 2027 General Elections.”

The invitation further stated that “the purpose of the gathering is therefore not open-ended debate but mobilisation.”

It also said participation was voluntary and encouraged academics who supported the objective of the meeting to attend.

“All inquiries regarding accommodation and transport arrangements should be directed to the respective state coordinators, please,” it was stated in the letter.

Sources also said organisers provided logistics and transportation arrangements for participants.

A senior university staff member who did not attend the meeting said participants were expected to receive reimbursement for transportation and other expenses.

“Of course, you should expect all those who attended the stakeholders’ engagement to be reimbursed for their logistics and transportation. You don’t expect them to just attend and leave with empty hands,” the source said.

The amount reportedly paid to individual participants could not, however, be independently verified.

ASUU Rejects Endorsement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has distanced itself from the endorsement, stressing that the union remains politically neutral.

ASUU President, Prof Chris Piwuna, said the endorsement should not be associated with the union or presented as an ASUU position.

He explained that individual members were free to belong to political parties under the law, but such participation must remain personal.

“We will never take such positions, going by our constitution. They cannot mention ASUU. Nobody can mention ASUU in that context because we’re apolitical. Our members can belong to any political party that they want.

“They can do whatever they want to do under the law. We have never, and we will never endorse any political party candidate. Nobody should drag us into such things,” he said.

Piwuna also warned ASUU members against associating the union with the endorsement.

He said, “Neither our members nor our comrades should drag us into that controversy. We have never done it and we will never do it. We’re apolitical and we retain that apolitical position.

“It is the same mistake people make when lecturers go to participate in electoral duties and they will say ASUU members are participating in electoral duties. It is misleading.

“It is misleading because ASUU has not sent anybody outside to participate in the electoral duties or serve as electoral officers. You can imagine heads of institutions like vice-chancellors that are always fighting us on campus; when they go out and do something, they will say they are our members. Meanwhile, these are the people fighting the union. We don’t endorse candidates of political parties.”

Masari Seeks Northern Support For Tinubu

Masari continued his political consultations on Sunday with a meeting involving women Islamic scholars from the 19 northern states.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani also attended the engagement.

Masari attributed opposition to Tinubu in some parts of Northern Nigeria largely to ethnic considerations, arguing that some people oppose the president because he is neither Hausa nor from the North.

“What is the fault of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other than the fact that he is not a Hausa man or from the North?” Masari asked.

He condemned ethnic discrimination and argued that Islam does not place people above one another based on ethnicity, language or skin colour.

“Show me any weak Hadith that tells us to discriminate based on skin colour in Islam, or to discriminate based on language—that this person is Yoruba, this person is Hausa, or this person is Arab—such that their standing before Allah would be different, when fear of Allah is the only measure,” he said.

The presidential adviser, who served as Tinubu’s placeholder before the 2023 election, urged Muslims and Northerners to base their political choices on character, competence and fear of Allah rather than ethnicity.

He also pointed to the long period during which Northern politicians governed Nigeria and questioned whether citizens should continue to blame past administrations for unresolved problems.

He said, “Since the creation of the Nigerian Federation, northern leaders ruled Nigeria for nearly 30 years. So, I wonder: if what those people are complaining about wasn’t done back then, should we sit around complaining now?”

Masari also defended the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, saying those who supported the arrangement did so because of their religious convictions.

“Indeed, if Almighty Allah raises us on the Day of Judgment and asks us why we supported a Muslim-Muslim ticket, by Allah, we will have an answer: ‘Lord, we did it for Your sake,’” Masari said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Paris, France, as he begins the second phase of his three-week vacation in Europe.

The Nigerian leader was received in the French capital by Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Ambassador Ayodele Oke.

Tinubu had departed Nigeria about two weeks ago to begin his annual leave in Europe.

According to a statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, London was the President’s first destination.

“His first stop will be London, United Kingdom,” the statement said.

The statement added that Tinubu would return to Nigeria after completing his working vacation and participate in preparations for the January 2027 election.

The President’s movement to France marks the continuation of his scheduled European break before his return to Nigeria.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Government has rejected former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, describing the plan as a threat to the reforms introduced in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

The government argued that returning to subsidy could create fresh legal and fiscal challenges while discouraging investment in domestic refining, including the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries.

The position was conveyed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, in response to Atiku’s proposal.

Onanuga described the former vice-president’s position as retrogressive and fiscally unsustainable, accusing him of making the proposal out of “desperation to win the presidency”.

He maintained that Nigeria’s petroleum sector had undergone fundamental changes since Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, also defended the policy, saying subsidy removal generated N15.8 trillion for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

According to Oyedele, the Federal Government received N5.4 trillion from the resources, while N10.4 trillion was distributed to state and local governments.

Tinubu has also criticised Atiku’s proposal, arguing that it reflects a lack of understanding of governance and economic management.

The President made the remarks when he received Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke at the State House.

Atiku, who is now the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has made the restoration of petrol subsidy a major part of his 2027 campaign.

The former vice-president had supported subsidy removal during the 2023 election campaign but now argues that Nigerians have not seen sufficient benefits from the policy.

He has said the revenue generated after the subsidy removal has not translated into improved living conditions or affordable food for ordinary Nigerians.

Atiku has proposed a different intervention for the oil and gas sector, with emphasis on domestic refining. He said any government support should be capped, included in the budget and tied to verifiable production and measurable benefits for consumers.

He also proposed that crude allocated under the programme should be tracked to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the intervention.

Atiku said his proposal would not amount to a return to the opaque subsidy arrangement of the past. Instead, he described it as a controlled mechanism designed to support Nigerian refineries and ensure that cheaper crude feedstock benefits consumers.

However, economists have expressed differing views on whether restoring subsidy would provide a sustainable solution to Nigeria’s economic difficulties.

Prof. Uche Uwaleke, President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, CMAN, said the debate should focus beyond the immediate appeal of cheaper petrol.

He argued that the central question should be how scarce public resources could be used sustainably to improve citizens’ welfare.

Uwaleke noted that the former subsidy system placed a heavy burden on public finances and created opportunities for arbitrage, smuggling and rent-seeking.

“The success of subsidy removal should not be measured simply by whether government stopped paying the subsidy.

“It should be measured by whether it succeeded in converting that difficult sacrifice into a more productive economy, stronger public services, increased domestic production and a better quality of life for the ordinary Nigerian,” he said.

Prof. Ken Ife, a global financial analyst and development economist, also opposed the idea of returning to a blanket subsidy regime merely to reduce petrol prices.

Ife argued that Nigeria should focus on addressing the structural problems affecting fuel supply and the wider economy instead of artificially reducing pump prices.

He warned that a return to the previous consumption-based subsidy system could recreate the inefficiencies, distortions and financial leakages associated with the former arrangement.

“In broad macroeconomic terms, and even in development economies, you do not subsidise consumption. What you subsidise is production.

“You cannot borrow money to pay for subsidy. That is unlawful when you consider Fiscal Responsibility Act. It does not recognise that as a legitimate expenditure or as a legitimate borrowing,” he said.

Despite the government’s defence of subsidy removal, some Nigerians say the policy has brought severe economic pressure.

A civil servant, Ibrahim Abbas, said workers had expected the savings from subsidy removal to enable the government to accelerate infrastructure development and strengthen the economy.

“The only thing we civil servants have experienced since subsidy was removed is economic hardship and a huge depletion of the purchasing power of the Naira.

“The implementation of the new minimum wage is still shrouded in confusion, and all these make Atiku’s proposal attractive to ordinary Nigerians ” he said.

A retired civil servant, Sule Aliu, similarly said the economic situation had been particularly difficult for retirees since the subsidy was removed in 2023.

The disagreement over petrol subsidy is expected to remain a major issue in the build-up to the 2027 presidential election, with the Tinubu administration defending its decision to end the policy while Atiku presents its restoration as part of his campaign promise.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has declared its support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

The endorsement was made on Wednesday during the 2026 synod of the conference held in Abuja.

The event was attended by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation.

Representatives of the CBCN from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones asked Leonard Kawas, the organisation’s president-general, to announce the position reached by the conference.

Kawas said the CBCN has members in 52 countries, including 950 “canonical” bishops in Nigeria.

He recalled that the organisation was among groups that expressed concerns over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket presented by the All Progressives Congress during the 2023 election.

According to him, however, Tinubu’s subsequent appointments of Christians to prominent government positions changed the group’s perception of his administration.

“Suddenly, the man, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, began to roll out his appointments. Before we could say Jack Robinson, a Christian, who is loved by all of us, by Senator George Akume, was appointed the secretary to the government of the federation,” Kawas said.

“Our minds and BPs started coming down. Mr President, if you are watching us, for we, Christians, that was the turning point of your government.

“When we were still celebrating it, before we knew it, you appointed an FCT minister. For the first time in many years, a Christian brother, Barrister Nyesom Wike, was appointed.

“Mr President, when we have sat back and examined the way you balanced the religious imbalance that has existed for long. President Bola Tinubu came and balanced our diversity so very well. There is no iota of nepotism.”

Kawas also cited the appointment of Nentawe Yilwatda, a Christian, as national chairman of the APC as part of what he described as the president’s efforts to promote religious balance.

He further said Tinubu had supported Christian candidates who went on to become governors.

The CBCN president-general said the bishops would continue to support the president through prayers and advocacy.

“We are here today to reassure him of our solid support. We are standing with him in prayers and advocacy for the good programmes he has brought forth for the liberation of Nigeria,” he added.

“We stand with the president today, and as long as he is willing to be our president and even come in 2027, we will still be standing with him.

“So, it is safe to say that this house has endorsed him for the 2027 presidency. Let him go ahead.”

The endorsement places the CBCN among religious and interest groups that have publicly declared their positions ahead of the 2027 presidential election.