Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has said he would seek to reduce the price of petrol to about N300 per litre if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Duke made the promise during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, while outlining his proposed approach to Nigeria’s petroleum sector and criticising the current pricing structure.
The former governor argued that petrol meant for domestic consumption should not be priced solely according to international crude oil market rates.
According to him, Nigeria should determine the cost of crude allocated for domestic use based primarily on the cost of production, refining and distribution, rather than applying international market prices to fuel consumed by Nigerians.
Duke said such an approach would make petrol more affordable and reduce the pressure that high energy costs place on households and businesses.
When asked what petrol could realistically cost under his proposed administration, Duke said he would try to bring the price down to about N300 per litre.
He acknowledged that the figure might appear unrealistic to some Nigerians but said he had calculations supporting the proposal.
Duke also criticised the existing debate around fuel subsidy, arguing that the government should distinguish between subsidising imported or internationally priced petroleum products and supplying Nigerians with crude oil produced domestically at an appropriate production cost.
He said Nigeria could allocate a portion of its crude production for domestic consumption while selling the remaining volume internationally.
The PRP candidate suggested that about 600,000 barrels of crude could be allocated for domestic consumption if that volume adequately met the country's daily requirement, while the remainder could be sold on the international market.
Duke's proposal comes amid renewed political debate over petrol pricing and the impact of fuel costs on Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Fuel prices have remained a major economic and political issue following the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu's administration in 2023. Recent increases in global crude prices have also pushed petrol prices higher in Nigeria, adding to cost-of-living pressures. Reuters reported in September that petrol prices had risen to around N1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja, with some northern locations recording prices as high as N1,500.
Duke has previously advocated a similar approach to domestic crude pricing. In September 2026, he argued that Nigeria should supply crude for domestic refining at its production cost rather than benchmark it against international prices. At the time, he said such a model could make petrol available at between N200 and N300 per litre.
During Wednesday's interview, Duke also criticised the economic burden of high petrol prices on low-income Nigerians, arguing that transportation and energy costs consume a significant portion of household incomes.
He said affordable energy was essential to productivity and economic growth, describing fuel as a major driver of Nigeria's economy.
The former governor's N300 target is currently an electoral proposal and would depend on the implementation of the pricing, crude allocation, refining and distribution policies he outlined.
Duke is among the politicians seeking the presidency in the 2027 election, with the PRP presenting him as its presidential candidate.
The 2027 presidential contest is expected to feature competing proposals on petrol pricing, subsidy policy, domestic refining and the management of Nigeria's crude oil resources.
Duke's latest promise therefore places fuel affordability among the economic issues he intends to campaign on as Nigerians prepare for the 2027 general election.
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