Phrank Shaibu, spokesman for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has said his principal’s proposed economic recovery plan would replace what he described as the “reckless punishment” of Nigerians with an “intelligent reform.”
In an interview with ARISE NEWS, monitored by The News Chronicle, Shaibu said Atiku’s proposed subsidy framework differed from the previous regime, which relied heavily on imported refined petroleum products and was vulnerable to waste and unverifiable claims.
He said the proposed plan would focus on supporting local refineries by subsidising crude oil for domestic production and using technology to monitor the process.
“What Atiku is proposing is simple, clear and unambiguous. He is saying we have to cut down waste and place subsidy on production. Production must be done here in Nigeria,” Shaibu said.
According to him, the policy would help reduce energy and transportation costs, lower food prices and ease inflation.
Shaibu said the proposal would also encourage domestic refining by ensuring that locally produced petroleum products were supplied to Nigerians at cheaper prices.
He defended the proposal against criticism from President Bola Tinubu, accusing the administration of transferring the burden of subsidy removal to ordinary Nigerians while increasing allocations to state governments.
Shaibu argued that increased revenue to state governments could not amount to development if Nigerians continued to face rising transportation and food costs.
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He said Atiku’s proposal aimed to create a subsidy system that was transparent, targeted, and directly beneficial to citizens.
“The suffering of Nigerians is not the definition of reform. The meaning of reform is when there are benefits,” Shaibu said.
He added that genuine reform should enable Nigerians to afford food, energy, transportation, education and housing.
