Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has claimed that United States President Donald Trump supports his proposal to restore fuel subsidy in Nigeria.
Atiku, who has made the policy a central pillar of his 2027 campaign, said his “Production Subsidy” plan would support domestic refining and put money back into the pockets of Nigerians . He argued that the United States “understands the importance of supporting strategic energy production” in a statement issued by his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu .
The former vice-president’s claim comes as the 2027 election campaign takes shape, with the fuel subsidy question emerging as a defining issue between the opposition and the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
What Atiku Is Actually Proposing
Atiku has repeatedly insisted that his proposed policy is not a return to the old import subsidy regime that was scrapped in May 2023 . Instead, he describes it as a “targeted, capped, transparently budgeted and independently audited” intervention designed to support domestic refining and production .
His spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, clarified in August that the policy would not have an arbitrary end date but would be withdrawn progressively as domestic refining capacity expands and market conditions improve .
“You do not remove scaffolding because the calendar says so. You remove it when the building can stand securely on its own,” Shaibu said .
Why Atiku Is Citing Trump
Atiku’s reference to Trump appeared to be a strategic appeal to international credibility for his economic policy . The statement from his campaign said:
“America understands the importance of supporting strategic energy production,” while also citing the position of the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN), which has called for support for domestic refining .
The ADC candidate framed his proposal as a contrast to President Tinubu’s approach, accusing the administration of granting “waivers, incentives and concessions to multinational oil companies and businesses close to his administration” while opposing relief for ordinary Nigerians .
The Human Cost Argument
Atiku linked his subsidy plan directly to the rising cost of living under the Tinubu administration, citing specific price increases :
Petrol: from approximately N199 to N1,400 per litre
Fertiliser: from about N9,000 to N50,000
Cement: from roughly N4,000 to N13,500
Dollar exchange rate: from about N450 to N1,400
“When fuel rises, transport rises. When transport rises, food rises. When food rises, families suffer,” Atiku said .
He argued that the wealth of a nation “is not measured by how much government collects, but by how much the money in the pockets of its people can buy” .
A Shift From His 2023 Position
Atiku’s current stance represents a significant reversal from his position during the 2023 presidential campaign, when he said he would remove fuel subsidy within his first 100 days in office .
He has explained the shift by arguing that while he did not originally oppose removal, the Tinubu administration has failed to use the savings — estimated at N15.8 trillion between June 2023 and December 2025 — to improve Nigerians’ lives .
“If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different,” Atiku said .
What Remains Unclear
The claim that Trump supports Atiku’s fuel subsidy plan comes with no direct statement from Trump or the US government . The available information does not yet establish whether the US President has formally endorsed Atiku’s policy or whether the claim is based on a broader interpretation of US energy policy.
The 2027 election is likely to see continued debate over the subsidy question, with competing claims over whether the policy’s removal has benefited or harmed ordinary Nigerians.
