Petroleum Subsidy Removal and Consumer Vulnerability in Benue State: A Legal Policy Assessment

This research assesses the social and legal implications of the 2023 petroleum subsidy removal for low-income consumers in Benue State, North Central Nigeria. The abrupt removal of petrol subsidies in May 2023 triggered sharp fuel price increases and cascading cost-of-living effects, disproportionately affecting rural and semi-urban households in agrarian states like Benue. The study adopts a descriptive survey approach, collecting data through structured questionnaires administered to 150 household heads and small business owners in Makurdi and Gboko. Secondary data from the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, civil society organisations, and NMDPRA price reports are incorporated into the analysis. Findings reveal that the policy transition lacked adequate consumer protection safeguards and that vulnerable populations had limited legal recourse against price gouging and product unavailability. The research recommends a statutory transitional relief framework that mandates price stabilisation measures and consumer protection obligations during major energy policy shifts. This study contributes to the policy discourse on energy equity and the social dimensions of petroleum law reform in Nigeria. Keywords: subsidy removal, consumer vulnerability, Benue State, energy policy, petroleum law.