2027: NDC will reintroduce fuel subsidy in different form — Kwankwaso

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) would reintroduce fuel subsidy through a different model if its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, forms the next government, the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said.

Kwankwaso disclosed this during an interview with Arise News while discussing petrol pricing and the removal of subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Asked how the NDC intended to approach the subsidy issue, particularly in the North-West, where cheaper petrol remains a major concern, the former Kano State governor said the party would introduce its own form of subsidy.

“No, no, no, look. We are bringing subsidy in our own way,” he said.

Kwankwaso said one of the measures being considered would be increased government investment in domestic refining to raise local production and reduce pressure on petrol prices.

He argued that if private investors could establish refineries, the government could also build refineries where necessary to meet the country’s minimum fuel requirements.

“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,” he said.

According to him, the objective would be to ensure that Nigerians could buy petrol at what he described as a reasonable price.

“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,” Kwankwaso said.

“We, in the NDC, will do whatever it takes, really, to put the price of oil down.”

Kwankwaso also criticised the manner in which Tinubu ended the petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in May 2023.

He said the major presidential candidates in the 2023 election had supported subsidy removal but faulted Tinubu for implementing it immediately without first addressing the likely consequences.

“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,” he said.

Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, declaring that “subsidy is gone.” The policy subsequently triggered a sharp rise in petrol prices and contributed to higher transport and living costs.

Kwankwaso’s comments come as fuel pricing remains a prominent issue in the political debate ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures proposing different approaches to reducing the cost of petrol.