Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy and pledged that an NDC government would restore some form of support for lower fuel prices—though not by returning to the old system.
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television, the former Kano State governor described the subsidy removal, announced on Tinubu’s first day in office in May 2023, as a decision that has left Nigeria in a “total mess” economically. He argued that the policy’s immediate implementation without adequate cushioning measures contributed to widespread hardship.
Kwankwaso indicated that if the NDC wins power in the 2027 elections, the party would reintroduce fuel subsidy “in our own way.” He stressed there are multiple approaches available that avoid the inefficiencies and corruption associated with the previous regime. Central to his proposal is expanding domestic refining capacity.
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“We’re bringing back fuel subsidy in our own way. There are so many ways to do that. Now we have a refinery built by a businessman and I am sure more will be built,” he said. “If individuals in this country can build refinery, I see no reason why the government will not build refineries. We in the NDC will do all it takes to put the price of oil down.”
He pointed to the Dangote Refinery as evidence that large-scale private investment in refining is possible and argued the government should play a direct role in building or supporting additional facilities. The goal, according to Kwankwaso, is to ensure Nigerians can buy fuel at more reasonable prices nationwide by boosting local production and reducing reliance on imports.
The comments come amid ongoing national debate over the 2023 subsidy removal. Supporters of the policy, including government officials, have argued it freed up significant resources (reports have cited trillions of naira in additional federation revenues) for infrastructure, social programmes, and state allocations, while ending a system long criticised as unsustainable and prone to abuse. Critics, including several opposition figures, say the removal has driven up living costs, inflation, and transport expenses without sufficient targeted relief for ordinary citizens.
Kwankwaso’s position appears aligned with broader NDC messaging under the reported Peter Obi–Kwankwaso ticket, focusing on practical steps to lower energy costs and improve living standards. He framed investment in refineries and related measures as a way to achieve lower prices without simply restarting the old subsidy payments.
Fuel pricing and energy policy are expected to remain major campaign issues ahead of the 2027 general elections. Different parties and candidates have offered contrasting approaches: some emphasise maintaining market reforms and accountability for past subsidy savings, while others promise various forms of relief or production-focused interventions.
Kwankwaso’s interview underscores how the economic effects of subsidy removal continue to shape political discourse more than three years later. Whether proposals centred on new refineries and alternative support mechanisms can deliver lower pump prices at scale remains a question that will be tested if the NDC gains power—and one that voters are likely to weigh carefully.
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