The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said a government led by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would reintroduce fuel subsidy through a different approach if elected in the 2027 presidential election.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, made the disclosure during an interview with Arise News on Tuesday while discussing petrol pricing, domestic refining and the fuel subsidy policy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Asked whether the NDC would face difficulties campaigning in the North-West, where the issue of affordable petrol remains politically significant, Kwankwaso said the party had its own approach to addressing the cost of fuel.
“No, no, no, look. We are bringing subsidy in our own way,” Kwankwaso said.
He explained that the proposed approach would involve measures designed to increase domestic petroleum production and reduce the pressure created by dependence on imported refined products.
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According to Kwankwaso, the government could establish additional refineries where necessary to ensure that Nigeria produces enough petroleum products to meet domestic demand.
“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.
‘We Will Put the Price of Oil Down’
Kwankwaso said the NDC’s objective would be to ensure that Nigerians can purchase petrol at what he described as a reasonable price.
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He said the government would pursue whatever measures were necessary to reduce the financial burden of petrol on citizens.
“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,” he said.
“We, in the NDC, will do whatever it takes, really, to put the price of oil down.”
His comments indicate that the NDC’s proposed approach would seek to use increased domestic refining and government intervention in the petroleum sector as part of its strategy for reducing petrol prices.
Kwankwaso Criticises Tinubu’s Subsidy Removal
The former Kano governor also criticised the manner in which President Bola Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in May 2023.
Kwankwaso said the major presidential candidates in the 2023 election had supported the eventual removal of the subsidy, but argued that the policy should not have been implemented abruptly.
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He faulted the immediate implementation of the policy, saying the government should have first considered the consequences and put appropriate measures in place.
“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 said.
NDC Ticket Ahead of 2027
Kwankwaso is running alongside Peter Obi on the NDC ticket for the 2027 presidential election. The party confirmed Obi as its presidential candidate at its convention in May 2026, after which Obi named Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The pair have subsequently been involved in preparations for the party’s presidential campaign. The NDC announced recently that Obi and Kwankwaso had been given authority to nominate key officials for the party’s Presidential Campaign Council.
Kwankwaso’s latest comments place fuel pricing and domestic refining among the economic issues likely to feature prominently in the NDC’s campaign ahead of the 2027 election.
The proposed model, as described by Kwankwaso, would differ from simply restoring the previous petrol subsidy arrangement, with greater emphasis on domestic refining capacity and government intervention aimed at reducing the price paid by consumers.
