Obi makes U-turn, vows to return subsidy if elected
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has promised to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, reversing the impression created by earlier comments that his administration would only seek to reform the scheme. Obi made the promise on Tuesday during an interview with the BBC, where he argued that the major problem with the subsidy regime was the corruption surrounding its implementation. In his 2023 presidential campaign, the former Anambra State governor vowed to remove the fuel subsidy, stating that the funds should instead be redirected toward critical national development sectors like education, health, and infrastructure. His sudden U-turn also came about two weeks after his running mate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, backed the idea of reintroducing subsidy in a different form if the opposition party wins the 2027 presidential election. President Bola Tinubu had declared: “fuel subsidy is gone” during his inauguration on May 29, 2023...
