The African Democratic Congress has promised to restore full fuel subsidy if elected, saying the policy would reduce petrol prices and ease the rising cost of living.
ADC chieftain, Dino Melaye, made the declaration during an appearance on AIT’s Democracy Today Xtra, where he discussed the party’s economic agenda, political violence and the 2027 election campaign.
Melaye said the high cost of petroleum products had triggered increases in transportation, movement of goods, aviation and the prices of essential commodities.
“The ADC is coming to make Nigeria once again affordable. That is our principal objective. We want to make Nigeria affordable again,” he said.
According to him, Nigerians across political divides are facing the same economic hardship because they buy from the same markets and patronise the same petrol stations.
Melaye said the ADC would pursue policies aimed at reducing the cost of petroleum products and, consequently, transportation and other consumer expenses.
“We are bringing back subsidy 100 per cent,” he declared.
He argued that rather than abandoning fuel subsidy because of alleged corruption and abuse under the previous regime, the government should tackle the leakages and redirect the resources towards reducing the burden on Nigerians.
Melaye also claimed that restoring the subsidy could substantially reduce petrol prices and have a knock-on effect on diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel, transportation and consumer goods.
However, the figures and projected price reductions cited by Melaye were presented as part of the ADC’s proposed policy direction and were not independently established during the programme.
The position comes amid the ADC’s growing emphasis on the cost-of-living crisis as a major campaign issue.
Atiku Abubakar’s campaign has also said its economic programme would include targeted support for domestically refined petroleum products, subject to spending limits, public accounting and independent audit.
‘Nigerians Are Hungry’
Melaye also criticised the prevailing economic conditions, saying many Nigerian families were struggling to afford food, transportation and other basic necessities.
“Nigerians are hungry,” he said.
He added that the ADC’s campaign would focus on making food, transportation and other essential needs more affordable, alongside addressing insecurity and other economic challenges.
Melaye also condemned political violence and called for a campaign environment where political parties could freely mobilise and canvass for votes.
He said the ADC would resist intimidation and insist that votes must count.
However, allegations he made concerning responsibility for particular incidents of political violence were disputed during the programme by an APC representative.
The claims should therefore be understood as Melaye’s political position and not as independently established findings.