Atiku's government will reduce fuel and food prices in one year - Amaechi

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the vice-presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said that if Atiku Abubakar becomes President, he will lower the costs of transportation, fuel, and food within the first year.

Amaechi shared this on Friday during a chat on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He criticized the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu and highlighted some plans from the ADC.

He stated that removing petrol and electricity subsidies has made life harder for many Nigerians, making it tough for them to buy basic items.

“Everybody is suffering, everybody is looking for food to eat. People can’t buy fuel or travel. The airlines are threatening to increase the cost of transportation; everything is skyrocketing,” he said.

The former Governor of Rivers State also criticized Tinubu for not fulfilling his promises regarding electricity supply, saying Nigerians are still waiting for the improvements he promised.

“For Christ’s sake, President Tinubu does not have the right to speak; he doesn’t. He promised power and said if he doesn’t give power, they should not vote for him. Nigerians are waiting to vote him out,” he said.

Amaechi mentioned that Atiku has promised to bring back subsidies to help ease the economic strain on Nigerians.

“Atiku said I should tell you people that he will bring back the subsidy. Tinubu removed subsidy for electricity bill. He said Band A, B and C,” Amaechi said.

He used his own electricity bill as an example of how the current tariff system is affecting households.

“My house electricity bill was N500,000; now I pay N4 million. Atiku said if he comes, I will go back to N500,000. No more Band A and B because government will subsidise it,” he said.

Amaechi also pointed out that the rise in food and transport costs is linked to the removal of the petrol subsidy.

“He just held microphone and didn’t care. He just said remove subsidy. Since he removed subsidy, transportation increased, food prices increased, tomatoes, corn, everything,” he said.

He added, “Atiku said he will bring back subsidy. If Atiku brings back subsidy, everything will come down.”

Clarifying what the ADC plans to do, Amaechi said they are pushing for a production subsidy instead of just returning to the previous consumer subsidy.

“The greatest asset you have is that the presidential candidate has said, I will bring back subsidy. We are not saying we are putting back consumer subsidy. We say we are putting back production subsidy,” he said.

On education, Amaechi said that the number of children not in school has gone up under Tinubu, estimating it at 20 million.

“The number of out-of-school children has risen from 12 million to 20 million under Tinubu,” he said, adding that the number of illiterate Nigerians is now 92 million.

He also linked the rise in insecurity to farmers not being able to access their lands.

“Insecurity also increased. You no even fit go farm, and government doesn’t care,” he said.

Amaechi explained why he wants to run in the 2027 election. He believes he understands the problems facing Nigeria.

“I don’t care who else is running. I’m running because I’m a Nigerian candidate. Because I know the Nigerian problem. And I can solve the Nigerian problem,” he said.

Amaechi is confident about the ADC’s chances if the party is on the ballot in 2027.

“Whether free and fair or not free, if we [ADC] are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election,” Amaechi added.