NDC's Kwankwaso pledges fuel subsidy return in new form if elected in 2027

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice presidential running mate of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, has announced that the party would restore fuel subsidies if elected to power in the 2027 general elections, but through a restructured approach rather than reverting to the previous system. Kwankwaso made the declaration during a Tuesday appearance on Arise Television, laying out the NDC's position on one of the most contentious economic policies under President Bola Tinubu's administration.

The former Kano State governor directly attacked Tinubu's May 2023 decision to remove fuel subsidies immediately upon taking office, contending that the abrupt action triggered the economic hardship Nigeria currently experiences. Kwankwaso stated that among the three major presidential candidates in the last election cycle, Tinubu chose to eliminate the subsidy without adequately assessing the ramifications, plunging the nation into economic turmoil.

He recalled that all leading contenders had made campaign promises regarding subsidy policy before the elections. Rather than restoring the old subsidy framework, Kwankwaso outlined that the NDC would employ alternative mechanisms to achieve affordability for Nigerian consumers.

The core of the party's approach, according to multiple accounts, involves substantial investment in domestic refinery capacity. By strengthening local refining infrastructure, Kwankwaso indicated the NDC strategy would naturally lower petrol prices without maintaining direct subsidies in their traditional form.

The pledge is part of broader campaigning ahead of 2027, as political parties articulate economic platforms to voters. Kwankwaso's remarks specifically address regional concerns, particularly in the North-West, where subsidy removal has generated significant public discontent due to its impact on transportation and living costs.

The NDC's subsidy position represents a marked contrast to Tinubu's market-based approach and signals how fuel pricing will feature prominently in the next election cycle.