Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said 67.4 per cent of Nigerians surveyed by SBM Intelligence want the Federal Government to restore petrol subsidy, citing the figure as an indication of public concern over rising fuel and transportation costs.

Atiku made the claim in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, saying the survey highlighted the economic pressure facing households, workers and businesses.

According to him, petrol was identified as the second-most cited national problem in the survey and was also the Tinubu administration's lowest-rated policy issue, with a score of 1.69 out of four.

“This survey is no longer merely about economic policy. It has become a democratic question. When an overwhelming majority of Nigerians declare that a government policy is destroying their lives, responsible leadership must listen,” Atiku said.

He said concerns over petrol were more pronounced in rural areas, where 32.4 per cent of respondents reportedly identified it as their primary problem, compared with 11.7 per cent in urban areas.

Atiku further said petrol ranked highest among respondents in the South-West, at 30.5 per cent, and South-South, at 29.1 per cent.

He attributed the economic hardship to the removal of petrol subsidy, arguing that the policy had increased transportation and food costs while weakening the purchasing power of households and businesses.

“President Tinubu removed subsidy with a slogan, not a strategy. He had no credible plan for domestic refining, mass transportation, wage protection or the millions of small businesses that depend on affordable energy,” he said.

Atiku, however, said his proposed alternative would not involve a return to the former subsidy regime but the introduction of what he described as a transparent production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians.

“If elected, from May 29, 2027, I will introduce a transparent production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold to Nigerians,” he said.

He explained that imported petroleum products would not qualify for the proposed scheme, which he said would have a fixed spending limit, require National Assembly approval and be subjected to independent audits.

According to Atiku, the proposed arrangement is intended to reduce petrol prices, encourage domestic refining and restore purchasing power.

The former vice president's proposal comes amid continuing debate over petrol pricing and the economic effects of subsidy removal, with fuel costs remaining a significant issue in the political discourse ahead of the 2027 elections.

Atiku has previously described his proposal as a production subsidy rather than an import subsidy, saying government support would be tied to crude refined domestically.

He has also said the proposed scheme would be designed with safeguards, including spending limits and independent oversight, while arguing that support for domestic refining could reduce production costs and ultimately lower petrol price.