Restore fuel subsidy to tackle economic hardship in Northwest — Malami

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Kebbi State, Abubakar Malami, has called for the restoration of the fuel subsidy as part of immediate measures to ease the economic hardship affecting communities across the Northwest.

Malami said the removal of the subsidy had placed additional financial pressure on households and contributed to the rising cost of living in the region.

He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja while joining other ADC governorship candidates from the Northwest to sign the Northwest ADC Governorship Candidates’ Compact 2027–2031.

The candidates used the occasion to express support for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his promise to restore the subsidy if elected.

“We, the ADC Governorship Candidates of the seven Northwest States, hereby declare our total support for the promise made by the ADC Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to restore the subsidy as one of the immediate steps to halt the further slide of our people into abject poverty,” he said.

The seven ADC governorship candidates also urged President Bola Tinubu to reverse the fuel subsidy removal. They argued that the policy had failed to deliver the expected relief for ordinary Nigerians.

“The expected benefits of the subsidy removal had not translated into improved living conditions for ordinary Nigerians,” they said.

The candidates further warned that worsening economic conditions had intensified hunger and other social challenges across the Northwest.

They maintained that restoring the subsidy should form part of broader efforts to reduce the financial burden on households and improve living conditions in the region.