NDC considers return of fuel subsidy as Obi, Kwankwaso agree on petrol prices
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has said it will consider restoring petrol subsidies and other measures to reduce fuel prices if elected in the 2027 general election.
The party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, said he had reached an agreement with its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and party leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, on the need to tackle rising energy costs and ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, the former Kano State governor said the party was prepared to explore all available options, including subsidies, to make petrol more affordable.
“We are on the same page now with His Excellency Peter Obi. Our collective position now is that the price of energy in this country is too high and our position is we are going to do whatever is necessary to ensure that the price of fuel in this country is taken back, including doing whatever we can, including the subsidy and so on and so forth,” Kwankwaso said.
His remarks signal a convergence of positions between the two candidates, who had previously expressed differing views on fuel subsidies.
Obi had supported the removal of petrol subsidies but subsequently proposed restoring them under a transparent system designed to eliminate corruption.
Kwankwaso, meanwhile, had consistently advocated a modified subsidy arrangement to reduce petrol prices and cushion the impact of rising living costs.
President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidies during his inauguration on 29 May 2023, declaring that “subsidy is gone”.
The decision was followed by sharp increases in petrol prices, higher transportation costs and rising prices of goods and services.
Kwankwaso argued that Nigerians were still struggling with the economic consequences of the policy, insisting that tackling corruption in the petroleum industry could provide a sustainable solution.
“We believe we could get an answer, that is removing corruption wherever it is in the oil industry. Now, we have seen the implication of removing the subsidy on day one in this country today, up till now, I think nobody has recovered from that shock of removing that subsidy on that day,” he said.
He disclosed that the party’s presidential ticket had held extensive discussions on possible interventions, describing the proposed measures as the “mother of all subsidies”.
Kwankwaso maintained that the NDC would prioritise reducing energy costs and improving Nigerians’ living conditions if elected.