Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has promised to restore Nigeria’s fuel subsidy if elected president in 2027, saying the policy can be sustained without exposing the country to the corruption that characterised the old system.
Sowore made the pledge during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, arguing that the removal of subsidy has increased the economic burden on Nigerians.
According to him, the problem was not subsidy itself but the corruption and leakages surrounding its administration. He said his government would ensure that public funds allocated to the programme directly benefit Nigerians rather than fuel importers and other intermediaries.
A major part of his proposed approach, he said, would be the revival of Nigeria’s four refineries and a significant expansion of local refining capacity.
Sowore argued that increasing domestic refining would reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and lower the financial burden associated with fuel supply.
He also promised to eliminate fraudulent subsidy claims, alleging that past administrations allowed individuals and groups to benefit from payments for petroleum products that were never imported into the country.
“I’m restoring subsidy,” Sowore declared, while stressing that his administration would ensure that every naira spent on the programme could be accounted for.
The AAC candidate further said his proposed subsidy policy and funding mechanism had been detailed in his manifesto, directing Nigerians to his campaign platform for further information.
Beyond fuel policy, Sowore presented his 2027 ambition as a broader attempt to replace what he described as Nigeria’s entrenched political establishment with a new generation of leaders.
He said his administration would pursue what he described as “transitional justice” against individuals found responsible for actions that deprived Nigerians of opportunities and a better standard of living.
Sowore also rejected the idea of joining existing political coalitions, insisting that attempts to change the system from within could compromise political independence and weaken the ability of politicians to challenge entrenched interests.
He maintained that his long-standing activism and consistency on issues of governance, corruption and democracy constitute the experience he would bring to the presidency.
As the 2027 election approaches, Sowore said he would continue engaging Nigerians directly and urged voters to consider a different political direction rather than returning to what he described as “renewed hopelessness.”
