By James Adamu
The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy, describing it as a mistake and vowing that the party will restore it in a different form if elected in the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, said Nigerians deserved access to affordable fuel, arguing that the removal of the subsidy in May 2023 had contributed to the country’s economic hardship.
He spoke in an exclusive interview with Arise News on Tuesday.
The former Kano governor criticised the manner in which the Tinubu administration removed the subsidy, saying the policy was implemented abruptly without adequate measures to cushion its effects on Nigerians.
“Among the three, Bola Tinubu decided to remove the subsidy. And the consequences we thought would happen certainly happened. He removed it immediately, without looking at all the possible issues. That is how we found ourselves in this total mess economically,” he said.
He recalled that the major presidential contenders had campaigned on plans to remove the subsidy, but argued that Tinubu’s decision to implement the policy from his first day in office, without adequate safeguards, worsened the economic situation.
On whether the NDC would restore the subsidy if elected, Kwankwaso said the party would adopt what he described as its own approach rather than return to the previous system.
“We are bringing a subsidy in our own way. If individuals in this country can build refineries, I see no reason why the government, under certain circumstances, will not build refineries to achieve the minimum requirement for people to buy fuel at a reasonable price,” he said.
He explained that the party’s proposed approach would involve expanding refining capacity through both public and private investments to ensure adequate supply and make petroleum products more affordable.
“We will do whatever it takes to put the price of oil down,” he added.
Kwankwaso also criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to privatise the country’s refineries, describing it as lacking clarity and suggesting it was more political than practical.
The former Kano governor said the NDC’s proposed intervention would not amount to a return to the previous subsidy regime but would instead involve a structured system to reduce the burden of fuel prices on Nigerians while maintaining economic stability.
The debate over the removal of the fuel subsidy remains a major issue in Nigeria, with the policy resulting in significant increases in petrol prices and broader concerns about inflation and the cost of living.
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