APC CHAIRMAN WARNS AGAINST RETURN TO FUEL SUBSIDY, FAULTS ATIKU’S PROPOSAL

APC CHAIRMAN WARNS AGAINST RETURN TO FUEL SUBSIDY, FAULTS ATIKU’S PROPOSAL

ABUJA – The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has cautioned against calls for the restoration of fuel subsidy, arguing that such a move could reverse key economic gains recorded under the current administration.

Speaking while receiving a delegation of economic stakeholders in Abuja, Yilwatda said proposals by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to return to the subsidy regime should be carefully scrutinised in light of their potential impact on government finances, wages, education and infrastructure development.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman argued that a return to fuel subsidy could bring back fuel scarcity, strain public finances and threaten the sustainability of programmes such as the new national minimum wage and education support initiatives.

According to Yilwatda, fuel subsidy had previously imposed a heavy fiscal burden on government, limiting the capacity of federal and state authorities to meet salary obligations and fund critical development projects.

He noted that the removal of subsidy and the subsequent increase in allocations to states had improved the financial position of many sub-national governments, enabling them to pay salaries, pensions and execute developmental programmes.

The APC chairman also highlighted the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the initiatives that could be affected if government revenue is redirected to fund fuel subsidies.

Yilwatda maintained that sustainable economic growth requires policies that support investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and social protection rather than a return to what he described as an expensive and unsustainable subsidy regime.

While acknowledging the hardship experienced by many Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidy, he stressed the need for government to continue implementing measures that cushion the impact of ongoing reforms on vulnerable citizens.

He urged advocates of subsidy restoration to provide clear details on the cost, funding mechanism and long-term sustainability of such a policy.

According to him, Nigeria’s economic future should be guided by sustainable reforms capable of promoting growth, investment, employment and improved living standards.

The statement was signed by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the APC National Chairman on Media and Information Strategy.