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Over 67% of Nigerians Demand Fuel Subsidy Restoration – SBM
A new survey by SBM Intelligence has revealed that more than 67% of Nigerians want the fuel subsidy reinstated, rejecting the federal government’s current petrol pricing framework amid mounting economic pressure.
The findings come from Wave 2 of the Nigeria 2027 Voter Sentiment Tracker, which surveyed 1,103 eligible voters across 12 states and the FCT. Petrol, absent as an issue in the first wave, has now emerged as the second-most cited national problem at 18.2%, with government performance rated just 1.69 out of 4.
Regional differences are stark. Petrol is the top concern in the Southwest (30.5%) and South-South (29.1%), while insecurity dominates in the Southeast (62.6%) and Northcentral (47.5%). In the Northeast, debt leads at 28.3%.
Settlement type also matters: 32.4% of rural respondents cite petrol as their primary issue compared to 11.7% of urban voters. Concern rises with age, from 19.6% among youth (18–24) to 27.6% among those over 55.
The survey coincides with fresh spikes in pump prices, with petrol selling between ₦1,400 and ₦1,450 per litre in Lagos and Abuja. Opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar has pledged to restore the subsidy if elected in 2027, while the Nigeria Labour Congress has demanded wage awards and structural relief.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) clarified it lacks legal authority to fix pump prices, promising instead to monitor against price-gouging. President Bola Tinubu pointed to savings from CNG-powered buses in Kaduna as evidence of alternative relief measures.
SBM cautioned that its survey reflects stated sentiment among respondents but does not adjust for turnout or voter registration figures, meaning it may not fully capture the scale of national opinion ahead of the 2027 election.
