Iyobosa Uwugiaren argues that, amid the renewed debate over fuel subsidy recently ignited by candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the January, 2027 presidential poll, Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria should be asking: What kind of subsidy provides the greatest protection to the poor at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers? In other words, Nigeria’s fuel-subsidy debate should move beyond ideological slogans.

Laudable for its attempt at improving the transparency around public finances, the finance ministry’s accounting, sadly, fails to balance a few ledgers.

Words matter most when they determine what citizens think they are choosing. That is why Nigeria's renewed argument over fuel subsidy...