The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s plan to restore fuel subsidy if he becomes president in 2027.
NANS President, Babatunde Akinteye, said bringing back the subsidy without fixing the problems that made it unsustainable would only create more economic difficulties for the country.
Atiku had said he would restore the subsidy to reduce the high cost of living and ease the burden of expensive petrol on Nigerians. However, NANS argued that the previous subsidy system cost the government trillions of naira, encouraged fuel smuggling and benefited people who consumed more fuel.
Akinteye acknowledged that the removal of subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023 had caused significant hardship, including higher transportation, food and household costs. However, he said the government should use the money saved from subsidy removal to improve Nigerians’ lives.
According to him, the funds should be invested in areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure and agriculture.
NANS said the real issue was not simply whether money had been saved through subsidy removal, but whether the government was using those savings effectively to improve the welfare of citizens.
The students’ body therefore urged Atiku and other politicians preparing for the 2027 elections to present sustainable economic policies rather than relying on promises of immediate relief.
NANS maintained that Nigeria cannot afford to return to a system that puts a heavy financial burden on government while many important sectors still lack adequate funding.
The association stressed that its position was not in support of any political party or candidate, but was based on what it considers to be Nigeria’s long-term economic interests.
