Former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to adopt his idea of restoring fuel subsidy to give Nigerians relief from economic hardship under his government.

At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Mr Abubakar charged Mr Tinubu to use his remaining eight months in office to give Nigerians relief from economic hardship caused by his administration’s policies.

“Bola Tinubu should not be ashamed to do what is necessary to lower the price of petrol simply because Atiku Abubakar proposed a government intervention,” Mr Abubakar said.

The ADC presidential candidate added, “He (Tinubu) should just take the idea, rename it if he wishes, and even take the credit. What matters to me is that Nigerians pay less. A sensible idea does not become bad because it comes from opposition.”

Mr Abubakar had reiterated his plans to subsidise locally produced petrol to reduce prices and the ripple effect of soaring pump prices on Nigerians. 

However, Mr Tinubu opposed the idea, insisting that removing the subsidy is a necessary sacrifice to save Nigerians’ future.