Tinubu Reforms Spark Fresh Clash as ADC Backs Atiku’s Fuel Subsidy Promise

Nigeria could have faced an even deeper economic crisis if President Bola Tinubu had delayed the implementation of his economic reforms, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake has warned.

Alake made the claim while defending the Tinubu administration’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy and introduce other measures aimed at restructuring the economy.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the minister said the reforms had been painful for Nigerians but were necessary to address economic problems that had been allowed to persist under successive administrations.

According to Alake, previous governments recognised the need to reform the subsidy system but repeatedly postponed difficult decisions because of political considerations and concerns about the impact on their electoral fortunes.

He argued that Tinubu chose to proceed with the reforms despite their political consequences, warning that further delays could have pushed Nigeria into a situation where citizens would need wheelbarrows of cash to purchase basic commodities such as bread.

Alake also maintained that the government had achieved greater macroeconomic stability, with some of the benefits beginning to reach households. He pointed to the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an example, saying families with children in tertiary institutions were benefiting from student loans and allowances.

However, the government’s position has continued to face strong opposition, particularly from members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) supporting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The ADC governorship candidates in the seven North-West states have endorsed Atiku’s promise to restore the fuel subsidy, describing it as an immediate step towards easing economic hardship in the region.

The candidates — Sabo Nakudu of Jigawa, Isa Ashiru of Kaduna, Ibrahim Amin of Kano, Ahmad Kaita of Katsina, Abubakar Malami of Kebbi, Manir Dan’iya of Sokoto and Bilyaminu Shinkafi of Zamfara — signed a regional compact outlining their proposed agenda for 2027–2031.

Under the compact, the candidates also pledged to introduce a minimum wage of N110,000 for workers across the seven North-West states if elected.

Speaking for the candidates, Malami said the removal of the petrol subsidy had contributed to worsening poverty in the region. They consequently declared their support for Atiku’s proposal to restore the subsidy as part of measures to address the rising cost of living.

The candidates said their wider regional agenda would focus on insecurity, unemployment, poverty, infrastructure, education and healthcare.

Meanwhile, the Atiku Nioo Campaign Organisation has also backed the former vice president’s economic proposals, including his plan to reverse the fuel subsidy policy and cancel NELFUND.

The group argued that the policies introduced by the Tinubu administration had increased economic pressure on Nigerians.

Its founder, Muyiwa Fafowora, described the removal of the fuel subsidy as a “sudden death” for Nigerians, claiming that it contributed to higher prices of food, transportation and other essential goods.

Fafowora, who spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, argued that Atiku’s proposal to restore the subsidy reflected the concerns of millions of Nigerians struggling with the rising cost of living.

He also rejected suggestions that restoring the subsidy would necessarily bring back petrol queues, reduce workers’ wages or trigger an economic collapse, insisting that the policy could instead be reviewed as part of efforts to provide immediate relief.

The contrasting positions highlight one of the major economic debates likely to shape the 2027 presidential election — whether Nigeria should continue with Tinubu’s reform path or pursue policies aimed at providing faster relief to households.