The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has publicly disagreed with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s perspective regarding fuel subsidy removal, while strongly faulting the current administration’s handling of the policy’s economic proceeds.

Speaking on the country’s economic trajectory, Obi explained that while he supported eliminating the corruption, systemic inefficiencies, and market distortions associated with the petrol subsidy regime, his strategy diverged from Atiku’s recommended framework and execution style.

The core issue facing Nigeria, according to Obi, is not simply the decision to lift the subsidy, but the government’s manifest failure to transparently account for and effectively deploy the resulting trillions of Naira in savings. He pointed out that despite the immense revenues freed up since the subsidy was removed, the funds have failed to yield visible improvements in basic infrastructure, public healthcare delivery, basic education, or targeted poverty alleviation programs.

Furthermore, Obi emphasized that any major economic reform of this scale required comprehensive, structured social safety nets to cushion the populace against severe inflationary shocks. He noted that implementing the policy without adequate mitigation strategies has directly exacerbated economic hardship across the nation, leaving vulnerable citizens to bear the brunt of rising living costs.

Ultimately, Obi maintained that sustained economic recovery demands transparent fiscal management, institutional accountability, and deliberate investments aimed at enhancing national productivity rather than imposing unmitigated financial burdens on everyday citizens.