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, but through a different approach.

Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, made the disclosure during an interview with Arise News while discussing petrol pricing and the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Responding to a question on whether the party’s position on fuel subsidy could affect its campaign in the North-West, Kwankwaso said the NDC would introduce subsidy “in our own way.”

He explained that the proposed approach would include increased government investment in domestic refineries to boost local production and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.

According to him, expanding Nigeria’s refining capacity would help make petrol available to consumers 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 said the NDC would pursue measures aimed at reducing petrol prices, adding that its objective was for Nigerians to be able to purchase fuel at 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.”

The NDC candidate also criticised the manner in which Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy shortly after assuming office in 2023.

Kwankwaso noted that the major presidential candidates in the 2023 election had supported subsidy removal, but faulted the Tinubu administration for implementing the policy immediately without, in his view, 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,” he said.

Kwankwaso’s comments come as fuel pricing and the future of subsidy remain part of the policy debate ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Obi and Kwankwaso were formally presented as the NDC’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates respectively in May 2026.