Over 67% of Nigerians Surveyed Want Fuel Subsidy Restored — SBM Intelligence
More than 67% of Nigerians surveyed support the reinstatement of the petrol subsidy, reflecting growing public dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s current fuel pricing framework amid rising economic pressures.
The finding was contained in Wave 2 of the Nigeria 2027 Voter Sentiment Tracker, titled Nigeria 2027: A Narrower Race, released by geopolitical research firm SBM Intelligence.
According to the report, 67.4% of respondents rejected the current petrol pricing policy, while 19.2% supported it.
Petrol has also emerged as a major national concern, ranking as the second-most cited problem in the survey at 18.2% and receiving the lowest performance rating among issues assessed under the current administration, with a score of 1.69 out of four.
Survey covers six geopolitical zones
SBM Intelligence surveyed 1,103 eligible voters through face-to-face interviews across 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory, covering all six geopolitical zones.
The fieldwork was conducted across a mix of urban and rural locations, including markets, viewing centres, schools and hotels, to capture responses from different categories of voters.
The report, however, cautioned that its findings represent a snapshot of stated sentiment among those surveyed. The sampling framework does not adjust for historical voter turnout, National Population Commission population projections or Independent National Electoral Commission voter-registration figures.
As a result, the findings should not be interpreted as a direct estimate of the views or eventual voting behaviour of the entire electorate.
Petrol emerges as major regional concern
The survey found significant differences in how respondents across regions viewed petrol prices.
Petrol was the most frequently cited concern in the Southwest, where 30.5% of respondents identified it as their primary issue, and in the South-South, where it was cited by 29.1%.
In rural areas, 32.4% of respondents identified petrol as their primary concern, compared with 11.7% among urban respondents.
Concern also varied by age, rising from 19.6% among respondents aged 18 to 24 to 27.6% among those aged above 55.
This findings come amid renewed increases in petrol prices, with pump prices in mid-September reaching about ₦1,400–₦1,430 per litre in Lagos and ₦1,400–₦1,450 in Abuja, according to the report.
The survey indicates that fuel pricing has become a significant economic and political issue ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly as households and businesses continue to contend with higher transportation and operating costs.
