2027: Donald Duke Promises to Cut Petrol Price to ₦300 Per Litre

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has promised to reduce the price of petrol to about ₦300 per litre if elected president in the 2027 election.

Duke, a former Cross River State governor, made the pledge during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday. He said his administration would seek to price petroleum products for domestic consumption based on production costs rather than international market prices.

“I will try and bring it to about ₦300. It sounds so outlandish, but I have given you the arithmetic,” Duke said, explaining that part of Nigeria’s crude production could be allocated for domestic consumption while the remainder is sold internationally.

The PRP candidate said he would not simply continue President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies if elected. He argued that fuel pricing should reflect the cost of producing and refining petroleum rather than the international benchmark.

Duke also criticised the impact of high fuel prices on households, pointing to the ₦70,000 minimum wage and arguing that many Nigerians cannot comfortably absorb rising energy and transportation costs. He said affordable fuel was necessary to support productivity and economic activity.

On insecurity, Duke attributed the country’s kidnapping and banditry crisis to what he described as a collapsed economy. He argued that economic pressure and inadequate resources have contributed to the desperation driving some people into criminal activity.

The former governor also said Nigeria’s budget had failed to keep pace with population growth, arguing that the country’s economic resources were inadequate to meet the needs of its rapidly growing population.

Duke further challenged the presidential candidates to participate in a robust debate ahead of the 2027 election. He said Nigerians should have the opportunity to hear the candidates explain their plans and competing visions for the country.

Duke is among the presidential candidates listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 election, which is scheduled for January 16, 2027.