The Director of News and Politics Editor at ARISE News, Sumner Sambo, has challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to explain what his proposal to return to petrol subsidy would mean for Nigerians.
Sambo said returning to the subsidy regime could reintroduce some of the challenges associated with the policy, including fuel scarcity and long queues at filling stations.
He made the remark on ARISE NEWS TV and obtained by The News Chronicle, while discussing the debate over petrol subsidy and Atiku’s position on the issue.
According to him, Nigerians need clarity on whether the former vice-president intends to reintroduce petrol subsidy and how such a policy would be implemented.
“I think Atiku Abubakar should be held by the neck to explain to us what it means to go back to that problem,” Sambo said.
He argued that Atiku should explain what his proposed subsidy policy would entail and how it would differ from the system previously operated in Nigeria.
“It would mean returning to the problems we previously had, which we have already identified as a national challenge, including long queues at fuel stations,” he said.
Sambo also urged the former vice-president to clarify his proposal on supporting local refineries and explain how the plan would work in practice.
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“Atiku needs to clarify what exactly he intends to introduce and how his proposal to support refineries would work,” he added.
The debate over petrol subsidy has remained a major issue in Nigeria following the Federal Government’s removal of the subsidy in May 2023, which led to a sharp increase in petrol prices and triggered widespread concerns over the cost of living.
Atiku, who is seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election, has previously advocated policies to address the impact of petrol prices on Nigerians, including support for domestic refining.
