Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Vice Presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has announced that a future government led by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would implement a restructured fuel subsidy. This statement came during an interview on Arise News, where Kwankwaso discussed fuel pricing and current economic policies under President Bola Tinubu.
Kwankwaso emphasized the NDC’s commitment to reducing the cost of petrol for Nigerians, proposing increased investments in local refining capabilities. He assured that the party would bring back the subsidy “in our own way” and dismissed concerns over its implications for their campaign in the North-West region.
He elaborated that the government could build more refineries to enhance domestic production, thereby minimizing reliance on imported petroleum products. “If individuals in this country could build refineries, I see no reason why government, under certain circumstances, will not build a refinery or refineries,” Kwankwaso stated.
Additionally, he reiterated the importance of ensuring that all Nigerians can access petrol at what he termed a reasonable price. Criticizing Tinubu’s immediate removal of the fuel subsidy upon taking office, Kwankwaso argued that the decision lacked consideration for its potential impacts and was made hastily.
“He removed it immediately — in fact, day one — without looking at all those possible issues associated with that,” he concluded, highlighting the NDC’s plan to prioritize measures that would lead to a decrease in fuel prices.
