The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said the party would restore fuel subsidy “in its own way” if elected in the 2027 general election.
Kwankwaso made the statement during an interview with Arise News on Tuesday while discussing petrol prices, domestic refining and the impact of the Federal Government’s decision to remove fuel subsidy in 2023.
The former Kano State governor said the NDC would pursue measures aimed at making petrol more affordable for Nigerians, arguing that government could invest directly in additional refineries to increase domestic production and reduce pressure on pump prices.
Asked whether the party’s position on subsidy could affect its campaign in the North-West, Kwankwaso responded that the NDC would introduce subsidy through its own approach.
He pointed to the Dangote Refinery and other private investments in the Nigerian petroleum sector as evidence that large-scale refining could be developed locally.
Kwankwaso argued that if private individuals could establish refineries in Nigeria, there was no reason government could not establish additional refineries where necessary to achieve what he described as the country’s minimum requirement for petroleum products.
He said the objective would be to ensure that Nigerians could buy petrol at a “reasonable price,” adding that the NDC would take measures to reduce the cost of petroleum products.
“We, in the NDC, will do whatever it takes, really, to put the price of oil down,” he said.
Kwankwaso also criticised the manner in which President Bola Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy after assuming office in May 2023.
He acknowledged that the major presidential candidates in the 2023 election had campaigned on the need to remove or reform the subsidy regime. However, he faulted the decision to implement the removal immediately without, in his view, adequately addressing the consequences for Nigerians.
According to Kwankwaso, the effects of the policy contributed to increased pressure on households and businesses, particularly through higher transportation and energy costs.
President Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023. The policy was followed by a sharp increase in petrol prices and a wider debate over how government should cushion its impact on citizens.
Kwankwaso’s latest comments place fuel affordability and domestic refining among the economic issues the NDC intends to emphasise ahead of the 2027 election.
The statement also comes as political parties and presidential candidates continue to outline their positions on the future of petrol pricing and subsidy policy.
The NDC’s proposed approach, as described by Kwankwaso, combines government intervention in refining with efforts to increase domestic fuel supply. He did not provide details of the number of refineries the party would establish, their proposed locations, the projected cost or the mechanism through which any subsidy would be funded.
His comments therefore represent a broad policy position rather than a detailed implementation framework at this stage.
Kwankwaso’s statement also comes amid a broader national debate over whether fuel subsidies should be restored, replaced with targeted support or permanently discontinued in favour of market-based pricing and increased domestic production.
The distinction is important because government investment in refining capacity and direct petrol-price subsidies are different policy mechanisms. The former seeks to influence supply and production costs, while the latter involves government intervention to reduce the price paid by consumers.
For the NDC, Kwankwaso said the immediate objective would be to reduce the burden of petrol prices on Nigerians while expanding domestic refining capacity.
As preparations for the 2027 election continue, the party is expected to provide further details on how its proposed fuel-pricing policy would work and how the government would finance the measures.
