ADC Promises Petrol Subsidy If Elected in 2027

Nigeria's opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said it will support local crude oil production to lower petrol prices if it wins the 2027 presidential election. They believe Nigerians are too poor to pay the full cost of fuel under current market conditions.

Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary, said President Bola Tinubu's government removed the fuel subsidy without readying Nigerians for the economic strain that followed.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Abdullahi stated that the ADC, led by presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, would focus on reducing living costs instead of allowing citizens to face high market prices alone.

“Nigerians are too poor to be left to market forces. We cannot have people so poor and leave them without subsidy,” he said.

He explained that the party's plan would involve subsidising crude oil production and making it cheaper for local refineries, instead of going back to subsidising petrol consumption.

“Whatever we need to do to subsidise the production of crude and make it cheap and deliver it to the people of Nigeria, we are going to do it,” he noted.

Abdullahi stressed that the government should protect citizens from economic hardship, comparing the need for help to a country defending itself during war.

He slammed the Tinubu government for pushing the weight of economic changes onto Nigerians without giving them enough support against rising costs of living.

The ADC spokesperson also raised concerns about the government's spending choices. He pointed to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as an unnecessary project in a time of widespread economic struggle.

He said Nigeria should not be compared to countries like the United States without considering the public services available there, especially affordable education and better public transport.

Abdullahi mentioned that public education in Nigeria has declined, pushing many families to seek better education in private schools.

He recalled that Nigeria launched universal basic education in 1999 as a free and compulsory programme, but claimed it has become less effective over the years.

The spokesperson urged the government to focus on policies that directly enhance citizens’ living conditions, rather than on projects that do not meet their urgent needs.

Abdullahi also took aim at the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele. He said Nigeria needs a trained economist to tackle the country’s economic problems.

“We need a serious-minded economist who has gone to school to fix the economy,” he said.

He pointed out that an accountant's view of economic policy differs from an economist's, especially when it comes to economic growth and ideology.

This criticism came during a dispute over the federal government’s recent announcement of a 30-day petrol price discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets.

The government claims this discount does not mean a return of fuel subsidy, arguing that the NNPCL will absorb the cost through lower retail prices rather than using public funds.

The ADC insists that government action is needed to lower fuel prices, with their plan focusing on enhancing local production.

Abdullahi mentioned that Atiku would work to make life more affordable for Nigerians, stating that international crude oil prices are not the only factor affecting petrol prices at pumps.

He added that the ADC's economic plans aim to cut production costs and relieve the burden of increasing prices on households.

When asked about the exchange rate during the interview, Abdullahi admitted he did not have the expertise to discuss it deeply. Still, he assured that his party would pursue measures to lower living costs.

He also defended Atiku’s choice to make economic hardship a key issue in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

Abdullahi predicted that the election would see the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) face off against Nigerians unhappy with the government’s economic policies.

“Nigerians are saying they can’t continue with the government, and that’s why we are saying 2027 is going to be between the people and the APC,” he stated.