The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to reinstate petroleum subsidy if elected president in 2027, saying his administration would first tackle corruption in the sector.
Obi made the statement on Monday at a town hall meeting organised for the Obi/Kwankwaso presidential ticket in Sokoto. His latest position comes after previous statements in which he said he would not restore the subsidy but would instead ensure savings from its removal were deployed to meet Nigerians’ needs.
Speaking at the meeting, the former Anambra State governor identified corruption as a major challenge confronting Nigeria and said his administration would tackle it across all sectors.
“People are talking about subsidy but what is all about it is corruption. By removing the corruption, I assure you that we will bring back subsidy.
“The problem of Nigeria is corruption, as such, if elected, we will stop all forms of corruption in every sector of the country,” he said.
Obi also urged Nigerians to vote for NDC candidates at all levels in the 2027 elections, describing the task of addressing the country’s challenges as a collective responsibility.
He said the party was committed to providing what he described as a politics of care and service to Nigerians,while promising to deploy the country’s resources to improve security, education and other sectors.
“Education is our number one priority after unity and security,” Obi said.
He further promised to connect all state capitals with railway lines to facilitate economic activities and boost development.