The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has revealed that it would reintroduce fuel subsidy if elected into power in 2027, but in a reformed and sustainable manner.
Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party’s vice presidential candidate, disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Arise TV, while reacting to the fuel subsidy policy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the positions of presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, explained that the NDC and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would not campaign against the return of subsidy in the North-West, where there is strong support for it, but would instead approach it differently.
“No, no, no, look. We are bringing subsidy in our own way,” he said when asked whether it would be difficult for the party to campaign in the region.
According to him, the NDC government would invest in refineries to boost domestic production and ensure petrol is available to Nigerians at a reasonable price.
“Of course, there are many ways. One, I can tell you: now we have a refinery built by a businessman, and I’m sure more refineries would be built,” Kwankwaso stated.
“Now, if individuals in this country could build refineries, I see no reason why government, under certain circumstances, will not build a refinery or refineries to the extent that we achieve the minimum requirement.
“What is the minimum requirement? The minimum requirement is for the people across the country to go to the filling stations and buy fuel at a reasonable price.
“We, in the NDC, will do whatever it takes, really, to put the price of oil down,” he added.
Kwankwaso also criticised President Tinubu for implementing the subsidy removal immediately after taking office, noting that the three major presidential candidates in the 2023 election — including Vice President Atiku Abubakar — had campaigned on removing fuel subsidy, but that Tinubu’s approach was abrupt.
“No, that’s what I know. Of course, among the three of them, Bola Tinubu decided to do so and removed the subsidy. And the consequences that we thought would happen, certainly happened,” he said.
“And not only he decided to remove the subsidy, what he did was to remove it immediately—in fact, day one—without looking at all those possible issues that were associated with that. And that’s how we find ourselves in this total mess, economically.”
Tinubu had announced the end of petrol subsidy in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, saying, “subsidy is gone.”
In a July 2023 national broadcast, Tinubu acknowledged that the policy had increased the cost of fuel, food and other goods, but argued that the subsidy had become financially unsustainable and that savings from its removal would be redirected to other areas.
Kwankwaso’s comments come as opposition politicians continue to advance different positions on the subsidy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the Nigeria Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in August, presidential candidates and representatives of other parties also differed on the policy, with some advocating its return and others arguing for alternative approaches to making petrol affordable.
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