Kwankwaso Vows NDC Will Restore Fuel Subsidy in New Form to End Economic Mess
Abuja, Nigeria—September 22, 2026—Nigeria’s opposition is drawing a clear economic battle line ahead of the 2027 elections. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) on the Peter Obi ticket, has declared that an NDC government would reintroduce fuel subsidy—but in a completely different form from the old system.
Speaking in a detailed interview on Arise Television, the former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate described President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap the fuel subsidy on his first day in office as a catastrophic misstep that has plunged the country into “a total mess, economically.”
“We’re Bringing It Back—Our Own Way”
Kwankwaso was emphatic: the NDC is not promising a return to the previous, widely criticized subsidy regime. Instead, he said the party would design a smarter, more sustainable approach.
“We’re bringing back fuel subsidy in our own way. There are so many ways to do that,” he stated. “Now we have a refinery built by a businessman and I am sure more will be built.
If individuals in this country can build refinery, I see no reason why the government will not build refineries. We in the NDC will do all it takes to put the price of oil down.”
His comments come as millions of Nigerians continue to feel the impact of higher fuel prices, rising transport costs and inflation more than three years after the subsidy was removed.
Focus on Local Refining and Price Relief
Central to Kwankwaso’s pitch is a strong emphasis on domestic refining capacity.
He argued that the federal government should match or exceed the efforts of private investors who have already built modular and larger refineries.
By expanding local production, he said, the country could reduce dependence on imported petrol and bring pump prices down significantly.
The former Defence Minister and two-time Kano governor positioned the NDC’s approach as both pragmatic and people-centred — one that prioritises immediate relief for citizens while building longer-term energy security.
Broader Political Context
Kwankwaso’s remarks form part of a wider critique of the current administration’s governance style.
In the same interview, he also argued that APC governors under Tinubu are “not in charge” the way governors were in the early years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, claiming many have become disconnected from the realities facing their people.
The NDC, a relatively new opposition platform led by former Bayelsa governor Seriake Dickson, has positioned the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket as a vehicle for national balance and economic reset.
Campaign structures are still being finalized, with the presidential and vice-presidential candidates given significant input into key appointments.
What It Means for 2027
Fuel subsidy remains one of the most emotionally charged issues in Nigerian politics. Supporters of the current policy argue that removal was necessary to free up funds for infrastructure and reduce fiscal waste.
Critics, including Kwankwaso, say the manner and speed of the removal inflicted unnecessary hardship without delivering the promised broad-based benefits.
By openly promising a redesigned subsidy and aggressive refinery construction, Kwankwaso has given the NDC a clear, populist economic message to take to the electorate.
Whether the proposal can be delivered in a fiscally responsible way will be one of the central debates of the coming campaign. For now, the former Kano strongman has put the issue firmly back on the national agenda.
*This report is based on Kwankwaso’s appearance on Arise Television and contemporaneous news coverage of the interview.*
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