Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cited a survey by SBM Intelligence indicating that 67.4 per cent of respondents want the Federal Government to restore petrol subsidy.

Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the finding showed widespread dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s fuel policy and the rising cost of living.

He said the survey result was evidence that Nigerians were seeking relief from higher petrol and transportation costs following the removal of subsidy.

“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.

According to the former vice president, petrol ranked as the second-most cited national problem and the Tinubu administration’s worst-rated policy issue, scoring 1.69 out of four in the survey.

He said the impact of higher fuel prices was reflected in increased transportation costs, food prices and operating expenses for businesses.

Atiku also cited regional variations in the survey, saying 32.4 per cent of rural respondents identified petrol as their primary concern, compared with 11.7 per cent of urban respondents.

He said petrol was also the leading concern among respondents in the South-West, at 30.5 per cent, and South-South, at 29.1 per cent.

Atiku criticised the government’s decision to remove subsidy, arguing that it was implemented without adequate measures to protect households, businesses and domestic production from the resulting economic pressures.

He also rejected what he described as attempts to rely on economic statistics and the Federal Government’s compressed natural gas (CNG) programme to justify the policy.

“Nigerians do not eat GDP figures. A mother cannot take FAAC allocations to the market. A worker cannot fuel his vehicle with presidential promises. Any economic reform that does not improve the lives of the people has failed,” he said.

Atiku said his proposed alternative would not restore what he described as the previous subsidy regime but introduce a production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria and sold domestically.

He said the proposed scheme would exclude imported petroleum products, have a fixed spending limit, require National Assembly approval and be subject to independent audits.

According to him, the measure would be aimed at reducing fuel prices, supporting domestic refining, creating jobs and improving purchasing power.

“The 67.4 per cent demanding relief represents a democratic majority. On the strength of that democratic mandate, we will replace Tinubu’s policy of punishment with a policy of production, protection and affordability,” he said.

Atiku urged the Federal Government to provide immediate relief to Nigerians during the remainder of Tinubu’s tenure.

However, the survey figures and their interpretation cited in the statement are attributed to Atiku and his office.