By George Omagbemi
Seyi Makinde, presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Governor of Oyo State, has rejected calls for the return of petrol subsidy, saying the focus should instead be on developing a fairer pricing framework that will make fuel more affordable for Nigerians.
Makinde spoke on Monday, September 7, 2026, during the commissioning of the APM presidential campaign office in Abuja, where he clarified his position on the ongoing subsidy debate.
He said Nigerians were asking the wrong question by focusing mainly on whether subsidy should be restored or permanently removed. According to him, the more important issue is how petrol should be priced in an oil-producing country like Nigeria.
Makinde argued that crude supplied to Nigerian refineries should reflect the country’s status as an oil producer, rather than being priced as though it were imported. He also called for transparency across the petroleum value chain, including crude allocation, refining, transportation, distribution, taxes and retail margins.
He said Nigerians should not pay higher petrol prices because government cannot secure the nation’s borders against smuggling.
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