The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Akure South/Akure North Federal Constituency in Ondo State, Mr Balarabe Akinwumi, has called for the restoration of Nigeria’s petrol subsidy, arguing that its removal has increased the financial burden on households and businesses, while also pledging to support the establishment of state police if elected to the House of Representatives.

Akinwumi made the proposals while speaking with journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, outlining his position on the country’s economic difficulties, growing security concerns and the legislative priorities he intends to pursue.

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The ADC candidate argued that the removal of fuel subsidy had imposed considerable hardship on Nigerians, particularly low-income households already struggling with rising living costs.

He maintained that government intervention remained necessary to protect vulnerable citizens from the effects of economic pressures, insisting that a properly managed subsidy arrangement could provide relief without becoming a channel for corruption.

“Our party has made it clear that we need to return subsidy and make it work for the benefit of our people. There is no country in the world that does not find a way to cushion the effects of some sectors through interventions,” Akinwumi said.

He added that any restored subsidy arrangement would require effective monitoring, transparency and accountability to ensure that public resources reached their intended beneficiaries.

The proposal comes more than three years after President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of Nigeria’s petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023.

The decision marked a major shift in the country’s petroleum pricing policy, ending a long-standing system in which government expenditure was used to keep petrol prices below prevailing market levels.

Although successive administrations have defended the reform as necessary to reduce fiscal pressure and redirect public resources towards infrastructure and social investment, higher petrol prices have contributed to increased transportation and operating costs for households and businesses.

The Federal Government, however, has maintained its position against returning to the previous broad-based subsidy arrangement.

At an October 8, 2026 briefing, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the government intended to provide economic relief through targeted interventions rather than restore the general petrol subsidy.

The Presidency subsequently reiterated that the decision to forgo some NNPC Retail profit margins was a temporary commercial intervention, not a reversal of the subsidy reform.

On October 18, Oyedele also ruled out a return to fuel subsidies and multiple exchange rates, maintaining that the administration would continue pursuing its economic reform programme.

Akinwumi’s position therefore introduces a different policy argument into the national debate, with the ADC candidate advocating a return to government-supported fuel pricing, subject to tighter supervision.

Beyond the economy, the candidate identified insecurity as another major concern requiring urgent legislative and institutional attention.

He particularly advocated the establishment of state police, arguing that Nigeria’s security challenges had become increasingly complex and required a policing structure capable of responding more effectively to local circumstances.

According to him, security personnel familiar with the languages, cultures and geographical conditions of their communities would be better positioned to gather intelligence and respond to emerging threats.

“We can no longer be policing current security threats with 20th-century tools. We need to invest in intelligence gathering, modern equipment and technology to meet the security challenges confronting the country,” he said.

Akinwumi also called for increased investment in surveillance systems, drones, night-vision goggles and other modern security equipment.

He argued that improved technology, combined with adequate funding and effective intelligence gathering, would strengthen the capacity of security agencies to address kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities.

The candidate further stressed the importance of monitoring security expenditure, warning that increased budgetary allocations would achieve little without proper accountability and evidence that the funds were being used for their intended purposes.

He also proposed a community-based approach to intelligence gathering through cooperation among traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organisations and security agencies.

Under the proposed arrangement, local stakeholders would help security authorities identify emerging threats, share relevant information and improve communication between residents and law enforcement agencies.

The state police proposal has gained significant attention at the national level, particularly following renewed efforts by the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution to permit states to establish their own police services.

On September 16, 2026, the National Assembly transmitted the State Police constitutional amendment bill to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration.

The proposal subsequently received the required support from at least 24 state legislatures, meeting the constitutional threshold for the amendment process, according to the Presidency’s October 23 announcement.

However, the constitutional process still requires presidential assent before the amendment can become law, followed by the necessary legislative and administrative arrangements for implementation.

The proposed system is intended to operate alongside the Federal Police Service, although questions surrounding funding, accountability, operational independence and possible political interference remain important considerations.

For Akinwumi, the proposed reform represents an opportunity to strengthen local security arrangements while addressing threats that he believes cannot be adequately managed through existing policing structures alone.

Turning to his legislative priorities for Akure South and Akure North, the ADC candidate identified poor road infrastructure, unemployment, poverty and limited economic opportunities as major challenges facing residents.

He promised to sponsor and support legislative motions aimed at attracting government attention and resources to the constituency if elected in the 2027 general election.

His proposed agenda includes infrastructure development, vocational training, job creation and improved access to financing for small businesses.

Akinwumi also placed particular emphasis on economic opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs, arguing that existing loan conditions could make it difficult for many potential beneficiaries to access government-backed financial support.

He proposed reviewing the requirements attached to public financing programmes to make them more accessible to women-owned businesses and emerging entrepreneurs.

The candidate further pledged to pursue stronger connections between local businesses and institutions such as the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Bank of Industry (BOI).

According to him, improved access to affordable financing could help women expand their businesses, create employment and contribute more substantially to the local economy.

His proposals come as political parties and their candidates begin positioning their policy priorities ahead of the 2027 general election.

However, the practical implications of the proposals will depend on legislative support, available public resources and the willingness of relevant government institutions to implement any resulting policy changes.

The debate over fuel subsidy restoration is particularly significant because it involves competing considerations around household affordability, public expenditure, petroleum pricing and the sustainability of government finances.

Similarly, the state police proposal raises questions about how security responsibilities and resources would be distributed between federal and state authorities.

Akinwumi’s comments have brought both issues into his emerging legislative agenda, alongside infrastructure development, employment and access to business financing in Akure South and Akure North.

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For voters in the constituency, the proposals provide an indication of the issues the ADC candidate intends to prioritise if elected, while leaving room for further scrutiny of how the suggested interventions would be funded, regulated and implemented.