Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has backed a targeted fuel subsidy regime, aligning closely with a proposal by African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
Kwankwaso’s stance, however, creates a visible rift within his own ticket, directly contradicting NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, who has repeatedly insisted his administration will not bring back fuel subsidies.
Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, the former Kano State governor argued that the NDC would approach the subsidy issue pragmatically, combining targeted relief with direct state investment in domestic refining to lower pump prices.
Asked if the NDC’s anti-subsidy posture would hurt its campaign in the North-West—where public demand for cheaper petrol remains high—Kwankwaso dismissed the concern.
“No, no, look. We are bringing subsidy back in our own way,” he said.
Explaining the plan, Kwankwaso said the federal government must look beyond private operators and invest directly in refining capacity to guarantee affordable fuel.
“Now we have a refinery built by a businessman, and I’m sure more will come. But if individuals in this country can build refineries, I see no reason why the government cannot build them to meet our minimum requirements,” he said.
“What is the minimum requirement? For Nigerians across the country to drive into filling stations and buy fuel at a reasonable price. In the NDC, we will do whatever it takes to bring the price down.”
While Obi has consistently argued that fuel subsidies breed corruption and that market deregulation paired with domestic refining will naturally stabilise prices, Atiku has campaigned on introducing targeted subsidies to cushion households against soaring inflation. Kwankwaso’s latest remarks effectively pitch his economic views closer to Atiku’s camp than to his own running mate’s.
Kwankwaso acknowledged that the leading candidates in the 2023 election all campaigned on ending the subsidy regime, but faulted President Bola Tinubu for a rushed, poorly planned execution.
“Tinubu removed the subsidy immediately—in fact, on day one—without mitigating the fallout. And the consequences we feared are exactly what happened. That is how we found ourselves in this economic mess,” he said.
Tinubu famously declared “subsidy is gone” during his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, sending petrol prices soaring from under ₦200 per litre to well over ₦1,000 nationwide and triggering record-high living costs.
