Obi will restore fuel subsidy, Nigerians to pay half price – Obidient Movement
The Obidient Movement has said a government led by Peter Obi will restore fuel subsidy but operate it under a transparent and verifiable framework that will enable Nigerians to pay half the independently determined…
Fuel subsidy has been one of Nigeria's most contentious economic policies for decades, with successive governments alternating between subsidising petrol prices and withdrawing support due to the huge cost to public finances. President Bola Tinubu's May 2023 removal of the subsidy led to a sharp spike in pump prices and transport costs, fuelling inflation and hardship, while supporters of the policy argued it curbed wasteful spending and smuggling that had drained government revenue for years. The subsidy debate remains politically charged, with opposition figures often positioning their stance on it as a key point of differentiation from the current administration.
The Obidient Movement, the grassroots support base built around Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, has continued to position him as an alternative ahead of future elections, frequently issuing policy statements on his behalf. This latest proposal — a return to subsidy but at half the independently verified price — has not been detailed with specifics on funding sources, implementation timelines, or how "independent verification" would work in practice. Both Tribune and Vanguard report the same core claim from the movement, though neither outlet indicates any formal response or costed plan from Obi himself, leaving questions about feasibility and whether this reflects an official campaign position or the movement's own interpretation of his economic stance.