Kwankwaso Says Obi-Led Government Would Reintroduce Fuel Subsidy

The Vice Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said a government led by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would reintroduce fuel subsidy through a different approach.

Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, made the statement during an interview with Arise News while discussing petrol prices and the fuel subsidy policy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He said the NDC would pursue measures to reduce the cost of petrol for Nigerians, including greater investment in domestic refining and the possible construction of additional government-owned refineries.

“No, no, no, look. We are bringing subsidy in our own way,” Kwankwaso said when asked whether the party’s position on subsidy could affect its campaign in the North-West.

Explaining the proposed approach, Kwankwaso said increasing local refining capacity would reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and help make petrol available to Nigerians at what he described as a reasonable price.

He argued that if private individuals 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.”

Kwankwaso said the NDC would prioritise measures aimed at lowering petrol prices, adding that its objective would be to ensure Nigerians could buy fuel at a reasonable price.

The NDC chieftain also criticised the manner in which Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy after assuming office in 2023. He said major presidential candidates in the 2023 election had supported subsidy removal but faulted the decision to implement it immediately.

According to Kwankwaso, the policy was introduced without adequately addressing the consequences that could follow its removal.

“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.”

Kwankwaso’s comments come as fuel pricing remains a major issue in the political debate ahead of the 2027 general elections, with different political figures proposing varying approaches to the cost and management of petrol subsidies.