Rabiu Kwankwaso, Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said a government led by Peter Obi would reintroduce fuel subsidy through a different approach.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, made the disclosure during an interview with Arise News while discussing petrol pricing and the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He said the NDC would adopt measures to make petrol more affordable for Nigerians, including expanding domestic refining capacity.
“No, no, no, look. We are bringing subsidy in our own way,” Kwankwaso said when asked whether the party’s position on subsidy could affect its support in the North-West.
According to him, the government could establish additional refineries to increase local production and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
Kwankwaso said boosting domestic refining would enable Nigerians to buy petrol at what he described as a reasonable price.
“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.
He added that the NDC would do whatever was necessary to reduce the cost of petrol across the country.
“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.”
Kwankwaso also criticised the manner in which Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy after assuming office in 2023.
He said although major presidential candidates in the 2023 election had backed subsidy removal, Tinubu’s decision to implement it immediately did not sufficiently address the potential consequences.
“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.
