The former governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, has dismissed the fuel subsidy restoration proposal by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, claiming that the over N15 trillion reportedly generated from the removal has strengthened the capacity of the federal, state and local governments to address critical national priorities.
Yuguda made the remarks at the second edition of a policy roundtable held in Abuja on Tuesday, where he enumerated the myriad of landmark achievements recorded by the Tinubu-led administration.
He argued that Atiku’s proposal to restore the subsidy may appear attractive to citizens seeking immediate relief, but it must be examined against national experience.
According to the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), APC Professional Forum, “The 2027 presidential election should therefore be about issues, achievements, and realistic solutions. One of the most significant reforms of the President Tinubu-led administration is the removal of fuel subsidy.”
“To understand this decision, Nigerians must appreciate its historical context. As Chairman of the Fuel Subsidy Task Force in 2009, I led a committee that examined the subsidy regime and uncovered serious irregularities, fraudulent practices, and financial leakages that placed a huge burden on the Nigerian economy.
“The subsidy system had become inefficient and consumed enormous public resources that could have been invested in education, security, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, and other productive sectors. Its removal was therefore a difficult but necessary reform intended to redirect national resources towards long-term development. President Tinubu demonstrated the political courage to implement a reform that previous administrations had acknowledged as necessary but could not fully execute.
“The additional fiscal space created by the subsidy reform has strengthened the capacity of the federal, state, and local governments to address critical national priorities, with over N15 trillion reportedly saved following the removal of fuel subsidy,” he said.
While defending the removal further, Yuguda said: “In the education sector, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is expanding access to higher education and reducing financial barriers for students. In the security sector, increased funding, improved operational support, and substantial investment in modern equipment are strengthening the capacity of the armed forces and other security agencies to protect lives, property, and strategic national assets.”
“Nevertheless, Nigeria continues to confront serious security challenges arising partly from instability in some neighbouring countries, porous borders, and the cross-border movement of armed groups and criminal networks into Nigerian territory.
“These external pressures have complicated the Federal Government’s security efforts and, in some instances, enabled terrorist and criminal elements to infiltrate communities and perpetrate violence.
“The administration must therefore continue strengthening border security, intelligence gathering, regional security cooperation, surveillance capabilities, and the operational capacity of security agencies to consolidate the progress already being recorded.
“Agriculture has equally received renewed attention through support for farmers, agricultural mechanisation, stronger value chains, and increased emphasis on food production. These interventions are aimed at improving food security, reducing import dependence, creating employment, and strengthening rural livelihoods.
“At the same time, reforms in revenue generation, fiscal management, economic diversification, and investment are intended to build a stronger and more resilient Nigerian economy.
“As we approach the 2027 election, Nigerians must carefully evaluate political promises, particularly those relating to the return of fuel subsidy. The proposal by former Vice President Atiku to restore subsidy may appear attractive to citizens seeking immediate relief, but it must be examined against our national experience.
“The old subsidy regime was associated with massive leakages, fraudulent claims, inefficiency, and a significant drain on public finances. Presenting a return to that system without clearly addressing these problems risks misleading Nigerians for short-term political gain and could reverse the fiscal space now supporting critical national investments.
“Every Nigerian has the democratic right to present alternative policies, but economic choices must be guided by facts, experience, sustainability, and the long-term interest of the country. Having chaired the 2009 Fuel Subsidy Task Force and witnessed the weaknesses of that system firsthand, I believe Nigerians deserve an honest conversation about what subsidy truly cost the nation and what can now be achieved when those resources are directed towards education, security, agriculture, infrastructure, and other areas that improve citizens’ lives,” he said.
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