Atiku promises to restore fuel subsidy and open borders if elected

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to bring back fuel subsidy, reopen Nigeria's land borders for legitimate trade, and tackle insecurity if he becomes president in 2027.

Atiku made this promise on Wednesday during the party's campaign launch in Sokoto, where thousands of supporters gathered.

He said his government would focus on improving security, boosting the economy, and encouraging cross-border trade, especially in Northern Nigeria, where many communities rely on business with neighboring countries.

"I will open all the land borders for our people to do legitimate business with our brothers across the border.

"We will restore subsidy back into our fuel and do everything possible to end insecurity so our people can return to their farms," he stated.

The former Vice President urged Nigerians to take part in the 2027 elections, vote for the ADC, and ensure their votes are counted.

He stated that the party would fight against any attempts to manipulate the electoral process.

"We should all come out, vote massively, protect our votes, and make sure our votes are counted and announced. We will not allow what happened in the last elections to happen again," Atiku said.

He also described Sokoto as an important political and historical center in Northern Nigeria and West Africa, highlighting its significance as the seat of the Sokoto Caliphate.

Atiku thanked the state party leadership for organizing the campaign launch, claiming that the ruling party in Sokoto tried to oppose the rally.

Earlier, the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, said the large crowd showed that Sokoto residents were ready for a political change.

Mark mentioned that the delegation spent over three hours traveling from the airport to the rally venue, covering less than 10 kilometers, due to the huge number of supporters.

He described the combination of Atiku and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, as the leadership needed to solve the country’s security and economic issues.

Mark also said the ADC would work to fix what he called its past failures.

In his speech, Amaechi said Nigerians should focus on economic issues when voting in 2027 instead of religious or ethnic backgrounds.

He urged voters to evaluate the Tinubu administration based on the cost of living and its performance, stating that the country needs leadership that can tackle the hardships citizens face.

Former Sokoto State Governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, also spoke, urging Nigerians to vote out the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.

Tambuwal accused the Tinubu administration of not properly addressing insecurity, poverty, hunger, and infrastructure problems.

He emphasized that the election should focus on effective leadership rather than supporting candidates based on political ties or regional affiliations.

"It is not about supporting our own leaders. It is about delivering leadership to this country," he said.

He called on supporters to rally for the ADC ahead of the elections.

At the event, Mark also handed the ADC flag to the party’s Sokoto State governorship candidate, Muhammad Manir Dan’Iya.

The Atiku-led group arrived at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport shortly after 1 PM but reached the rally site just before 5 PM.

Thousands of supporters from various parts of the state came to the airport and lined the roads to welcome the presidential candidate and join the campaign launch.

Atiku’s promises come amid ongoing discussions about the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s government, especially the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023.

The former Vice President has consistently promised to restore the subsidy if elected in 2027 and suggested a targeted approach for locally refined petroleum products.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council has challenged him to clarify how he would fund and implement this proposal.

Regarding the reopening of land borders, the Federal Government disagreed with Atiku’s claim that Nigeria's borders were still closed, stating that many major land borders had been reopened for trade under previous and current administrations.