Presidential aspirant of the Action Alliance for the 2027 general election, Joseph Fadunri, has promised to restore fuel subsidy and reduce the pump price of petrol to N299 per litre if elected president.
Fadunri, who contested the Labour Party presidential ticket in 2023 before stepping down for Peter Obi, said the removal of fuel subsidy had worsened the country’s economic situation without delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview, the US-based registered nurse argued that the savings from subsidy removal had not translated into improved living standards, insisting that the policy should not have been implemented before Nigeria’s refineries became fully operational.
“The first thing I will do is return the subsidy that was removed so that fuel can go back to N299 per litre. Once we do that, Nigerians will begin to see the economy recover within the first six months,” he said.
According to him, the long-term solution to fuel subsidy lies in fixing Nigeria’s refineries rather than relying on imported refined petroleum products.
“The day we repair our refineries is the day subsidy naturally disappears because we will no longer have to export crude oil and import refined products,” he added.
The presidential hopeful also pledged to halt government-funded foreign medical trips for public officials, saying the resources should instead be invested in developing Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He said strengthening local hospitals would not only improve healthcare delivery but also create employment opportunities for medical professionals and other workers.
On industrialisation, Fadunri said his administration would encourage local automobile manufacturing by making Nigerian-assembled vehicles the official vehicles for government use while requiring foreign automobile manufacturers to establish assembly plants in the country.
He also promised to make education both free and compulsory up to the age of 18, arguing that investing in education would help reduce insecurity by preventing young people from being recruited into criminal activities.
On security, Fadunri said his administration would improve the welfare of military personnel, provide modern equipment and restructure the security architecture to effectively tackle insurgency and other security challenges.
Speaking on corruption, he vowed to enforce strict accountability in government, saying officials found guilty of embezzling public funds under his administration would face severe punishment.
Reflecting on the 2023 election, Fadunri said he had no regrets stepping down for Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi despite claiming that agreements reached between them were not fulfilled.
“I wasn’t desperate for power. I believed that if Peter Obi could move Nigeria forward, he should contest. Even though many of our agreements were not honoured, I chose to put Nigeria first,” he said.
He added that his experience since the 2023 election had reinforced his conviction that Nigeria needed a generational shift in leadership.
According to him, older politicians had dominated governance for decades without addressing the country’s challenges.
“They have tried their best, but their best is not enough. It is time for younger Nigerians to take over and build a new Nigeria,” he said.