Peter Obi: I’d remove fuel subsidy orderly, not at inauguration
Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, told Rufai Oseni in an interview that he would have removed the fuel subsidy in an organized way, consulting industry operators first, rather than announcing it at his inauguration as President Bola Tinubu did in 2023. Obi stressed that he did not criticize Tinubu's decision but said he would have approached the removal differently - by meeting with stakeholders to determine the exact subsidy spend, address exchange-rate deregulation, and fight corruption head-on. He warned that since the subsidy was lifted, the average Nigerian has faced greater hardship, noting that the government has borrowed more money than it did when the subsidy was still in place.
The comments come amid ongoing debate over the socioeconomic impact of subsidy removal, which has contributed to higher transport and living costs across Nigeria. Obi's remarks clarify his position ahead of the 2027 election cycle, offering voters a concrete alternative to the current policy.
Given the continuing effect of fuel prices on household budgets, will you support a subsidy removal process that includes stakeholder consultation and anti-corruption measures, or do you believe the subsidy should be retained or replaced with targeted palliatives?