Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has pledged that an administration led by Atiku Abubakar would significantly lower the costs of transportation, fuel, and food within its first year in office. Amaechi, who is also the vice-presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made these assertions during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he expressed concerns over the current economic situation under President Bola Tinubu.

Amaechi criticized the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of petrol and electricity subsidies, which he claims has exacerbated the hardships faced by Nigerians. He stated, "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 further accused President Tinubu of failing to deliver on promises regarding electricity supply, asserting that Nigerians are still waiting for the improvements that were 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," Amaechi remarked.

Amaechi emphasized that Atiku Abubakar has committed to reintroducing subsidy measures to alleviate the economic burden on citizens. He explained, "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." He illustrated the impact of the current electricity tariff structure by revealing that his household electricity bill had skyrocketed from N500,000 to N4 million, asserting that under Atiku, it would revert to N500,000.

The former governor of Rivers State linked the rising costs of food and transportation directly to the removal of the petrol subsidy, stating, "Since he removed subsidy, transportation increased, food prices increased, tomatoes, corn, everything. Atiku said he will bring back subsidy. If Atiku brings back subsidy, everything will come down."

Amaechi clarified that the ADC is advocating for a production subsidy rather than a return to the previous consumer subsidy regime. He stated, "We are not saying we are putting back consumer subsidy. We say we are putting back production subsidy."

On the issue of education, Amaechi claimed that the number of out-of-school children has surged under the Tinubu administration, rising from 12 million to 20 million. He also highlighted the alarming figure of 92 million illiterate Nigerians and linked the increase in insecurity to farmers' inability to access their farmlands.

Expressing his reasons for contesting the 2027 election, Amaechi said, "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 expressed confidence in the ADC's chances in the upcoming election, stating, "Whether free and fair or not free, if we [ADC] are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election."