A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and security expert, Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, has warned politicians against promising to reverse the removal of fuel subsidy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mumuni described calls for a return to the subsidy regime as a potentially misleading response to Nigerians’ economic hardship, urging politicians making such promises to explain how they would prevent the corruption, waste and financial leakages associated with the former system.

He made the remarks in a statement signed by his media aide, Rasheed Abubakar, and made available to The Guardian in Ibadan.

Mumuni said Nigerians should not be swayed by promises of cheaper petrol without demanding clear explanations on how the policy would be funded and sustainably managed.

He argued that the former subsidy regime allowed substantial public resources to be lost through what he described as corruption and abuse, stressing that the funds could have been deployed to critical sectors such as healthcare, education and infrastructure.

“For too long, fuel subsidies were a goldmine for thieves in government. Billions of naira meant for our welfare disappeared into corrupt hands,” he said.

Mumuni questioned the extent to which officials, importers and middlemen allegedly involved in abuses of the system had been held accountable.

He said the subsidy regime failed to deliver commensurate benefits to ordinary Nigerians, while creating opportunities for a privileged few to profit from public resources.

“The subsidy system did not help ordinary Nigerians; it enriched the connected few while the rest of us got nothing but empty promises and fuel queues,” he said.

Defending the removal of the subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu administration, the APC chieftain said the policy had dismantled the previous framework and created an opportunity for government resources to be redirected towards development.

He cited road construction, healthcare interventions and support to states as examples of what he described as tangible outcomes of the policy shift.

Mumuni, however, acknowledged the hardship experienced by Nigerians since the removal of the subsidy, but cautioned politicians against exploiting the situation for electoral advantage.

He challenged those advocating a return to subsidy to provide concrete answers on funding, corruption prevention and the long-term sustainability of the policy.

“When politicians now promise subsidy reversal, they’re asking us to return to a system that robbed us blind,” he said.

“How will you fund it? Who will stop the corruption? Where’s your detailed plan?”

Mumuni urged Nigerians to scrutinise political promises ahead of the 2027 elections and demand accountability from politicians seeking their votes.

He said citizens should insist on specific and workable policy proposals rather than promises designed to exploit their economic difficulties.

“Before believing any politician’s promises, demand specifics,” he said, urging Nigerians to “stay vigilant” and “demand accountability.”