Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has defended Atiku’s proposal to make petrol more affordable, arguing that Nigeria should not need a conventional fuel subsidy because crude oil is a Nigerian product. He made the remarks on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on August 23, 2026
Okonkwo argued that the focus should be on reducing the cost of producing refined petrol rather than subsidising fuel consumption. He said Atiku’s proposed Atiku Fuel Affordability Plan (AFAP) would involve making crude oil available to local refineries at affordable rates so Nigerians can benefit from the country’s natural resource.
He criticised the 2023 removal of petrol subsidy, saying it had worsened economic hardship and weakened Nigerians’ purchasing power.
Okonkwo also argued that Atiku’s proposal should not be interpreted as a return to the previous subsidy regime. He acknowledged that Atiku had previously described the old subsidy system as unsustainable, but said the current proposal is focused on lowering production costs through local refining
