The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said a government led by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would reintroduce fuel subsidy through a different approach.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, made the statement during an interview with Arise TV while discussing fuel pricing and the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He said the NDC would adopt measures to reduce petrol prices, including increased investment in domestic refining.
“No, no, no, look. We are bringing subsidy in our own way,” Kwankwaso said when asked whether the party’s position on fuel subsidy could affect its campaign in the North-West.
He explained that the government could establish additional refineries to increase domestic production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
According to him, expanding refining capacity would help Nigerians access 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.
Kwankwaso added that the NDC would prioritise policies aimed at lowering the cost of petrol.
“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.”
He also criticised the manner in which President Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in 2023.
Kwankwaso said the major presidential candidates in the 2023 election had supported subsidy removal but faulted Tinubu for implementing the policy immediately without adequately addressing its 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,” he said.