By Ihechi Enyinnaya
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 adopt a form of fuel subsidy to reduce the cost of petrol for Nigerians.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, made the disclosure during an interview with Arise Television while discussing petrol pricing and the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Asked whether the NDC’s position on subsidy could affect its campaign in the North-West, Kwankwaso said the party would pursue its own approach to subsidy.
“No, no, no, look. We are bringing subsidy in our own way,” he said.
He explained that the proposed approach would include greater investment in domestic refining, arguing that expanding Nigeria’s refining capacity could reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and ultimately lower pump prices.
“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.
According to Kwankwaso, the objective would be to ensure that Nigerians have access to petrol at what he described as a reasonable price.
“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 the Tinubu administration removed the petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in May 2023.
He acknowledged that the major presidential candidates in the 2023 election had supported subsidy removal but faulted the administration for implementing the policy immediately without, he argued, adequately addressing its possible 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.