2027: Sowore Vows To Restore Fuel Subsidy

The presidential standard-bearer of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has stated that he will reintroduce the petrol subsidy if he assumes office in 2027, explaining that the measure can shield citizens from skyrocketing energy and travel expenses provided that graft and fraudulent importation rings are dismantled.

Speaking during a television appearance on Arise TV anchored by Charles Aniagolu, Sowore defended his stance on consumer pricing support and mapped out his strategy for lowering petroleum costs via local refining.

The opposition politician maintained that the subsidy mechanism itself is not inherently flawed, pointing instead to the dishonesty plaguing its administration.

“Our plan for subsidy is that it will not be removed,” Sowore stated. “I’m restoring subsidy. I made that clear.”

He asserted that terminating the price support system under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu drove fuel rates sky-high and subjected households to extreme economic strain.

According to him, petrol retailed around N400 per litre when budgetary allocations still covered the price buffer, but values surged past N1,400 in numerous areas following the policy shift.

“The day you remove it, it went from 400 Naira to 1,400 and something. In some places, 1,600. Everybody took a hit. The economy took a hit,” he noted.

He explained that his planned revival of the support framework would operate differently from past iterations by blocking the embezzlement of public funds through fake product importation claims.

“What will be missing in the restoration is that nobody will have a chance to import fuel that did not arrive here,” he asserted.

As a veteran journalist and campaigner, Sowore recounted past investigations into subsidy corruption where fraudulent paperwork was utilized to collect treasury payouts for petroleum supplies that were never delivered.

He promised that such illicit acts would find no safe haven under his administration.

“We will make sure that every dime that is spent on subsidy is not stolen. It gets to the people,” he added.

Furthermore, the AAC contender tied high fuel costs directly to Nigeria’s ongoing reliance on foreign petroleum imports despite the existence of four state-owned refineries.

“You have four refineries in Nigeria, none of which are working. I’m not the one who didn’t make them work,” he remarked.

Sowore pledged that his government would prioritize fixing existing plants while encouraging modular refinery projects to boost domestic output.

He argued that local processing would eliminate importation surcharges and generate employment for the youth.

“It is possible for Nigeria to fix its four refineries. It will build smaller ones or licence several other people who want to have smaller modular refineries,” he stated.

Challenging the status quo, he asked why the country persists in importing petroleum goods from nations that merely process local crude.

“Why can’t we make our own refineries work?” he questioned.

He argued that Nigeria must break its cycle of fuel import dependence and channel locally refined products straight to domestic consumers.

While acknowledging that corruption historically crippled the old regime, Sowore insisted that the proper remedy is weeding out corrupt beneficiaries rather than scrapping the safety net.

“So you remove the cabal. Subsidy is in order. You keep them in place. Subsidy is out of order,” he observed.

He further claimed that the current administration replaced the previous subsidy framework with alternative arrangements that favor elite interests.

“They have just changed the name of subsidy. They are still subsidising their cabal now,” he alleged.

Sowore emphasized that a successful pricing support policy must remain transparent, tightly regulated, and targeted at end-users instead of middlemen.

Reflecting on past warnings, he noted that his political camp cautioned against ending price support prematurely.

He argued that the harsh economic reality has proven his warnings correct.

“Most of the ideas you are saying that they are picking now, we started fighting for it. We have clearly articulated them,” he said.

“We told them, removing subsidy, will ruin the economy,” he added.

Rejecting the notion that corruption justifies abandoning the vulnerable, Sowore maintained that a competent government can simultaneously protect citizens and prosecute fraudsters.

Broadening his political platform for 2027, Sowore presented his prospective tenure as a complete departure from the ruling political class.

He dismissed criticisms regarding his lack of executive government background, arguing that his history of activism and democratic struggle serves as vital preparation for high office.

He also ruled out alliances with mainstream politicians, stating that aligning with the current establishment compromises genuine reformers.

“I have a lot of experience with these people,” he noted, stressing his commitment to systemic change.