Nigeria, Sept. 27 -- Last week, while writing on this topic, I stopped at the point where I said, "The man I will vote for must also promise me one thing about the cost of petroleum products and the role of subsidies."

Fundamentally, the cost of petroleum products affects our pockets and limits our purchasing power, while subsidies can moderate their cost.

Without subsidies, a severe cost-of-living crisis can hit transportation, logistics, and private electricity generation. No one can escape its ripple effects in daily life.

Transportation is visibly affected. Private vehicle owners feel the pinch at the pump, while public transport fares rise sharply. Commuters, workers, students, and businesspeople spend large portions of their inc...