Nigeria presidential election don put fuel subsidy debate for front line, as President Bola Tinubu and im main rivals dey tell voters different things about wetin suppose happen to petrol price support.
Tinubu, wey dey seek second term for January, don repeatedly defend im decision. For 2023, im government scrap di fuel subsidy program wey don last years. Tinubu talk say di move na to avoid wasteful spending and put money into infrastructure development. But dis month, im government bring short-term petrol price discount to counter rising costs wey di Iran war drive. Dat discount don make people ask again whether fuel subsidy go return for lasting way.
Im main rivals say dem go restore some kind consumer support if voters elect dem. Dem also accuse di president say e dey panic as pressure dey mount for am to explain im decision. Polls go open in less than 100 days, and Tinubu get 17 challengers on di campaign trail.
One survey wey Lagos-based advisory firm SBM Intelligence publish for September find say more than two-thirds of voters want government to bring back fuel subsidy of some kind. Di subsidy debate dey shape almost every conversation about di coming vote for Africa biggest democracy.
Insecurity, wey don worsen across di country, go also be major point of contention. Di campaign dey happen as voters’ buying power don weaken sharply for last three years. Fuel price don rise five-fold within dat period, and e help drive inflation and cost-of-living crisis.
Di fight over subsidy also reflect Nigeria history as Africa top oil producer and exporter wey never convert energy riches into broad-based prosperity. For years, di vast majority of crude oil wey di country produce na export.
