Fuel subsidy removal necessary step for Nigeria’s economy – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has explained that his decision to end the fuel subsidy was a difficult but essential measure aimed at rescuing Nigeria’s economy and ensuring national wealth benefits ordinary citizens.

Speaking in his Independence Day broadcast on Wednesday, marking Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, Tinubu reflected on the state of the nation when he assumed office, describing it as a “near-collapsed economy.” He emphasized that tough decisions, including the removal of the subsidy, were unavoidable to put the country back on a sustainable path.

“As a new administration, we faced a simple choice: continue business as usual and watch our nation drift, or embark on a courageous, fundamental reform path. We chose the path of reform. We chose the path of tomorrow over the comfort of today,” he said.

Tinubu explained that subsidy payments and multiple exchange rates had long created a system where “a tiny minority” reaped all the benefits, while the masses got nothing.

“In resetting our country for sustainable growth, we ended the corrupt fuel subsidies and multiple foreign exchange rates that created massive incentives for a rentier economy, benefiting only a tiny minority. At the same time, the masses received little or nothing from our commonwealth,” he said.

The President stressed that money saved from subsidy removal was being channelled into education, healthcare, security, agriculture, and infrastructure, areas he said would improve the lives of Nigerians.

“Following the removal of the corrupt petroleum subsidy, we have freed up trillions of Naira for targeted investment in the real economy and social programmes for the most vulnerable, as well as all tiers of government,” he said.

He admitted the reforms had come with hardship but assured citizens that the sacrifice was already paying off.

“I have always candidly acknowledged that these reforms have come with some temporary pains. However, the alternative of allowing our country to descend into economic chaos or bankruptcy was not an option. Our macro-economic progress has proven that our sacrifices have not been in vain. Together, we are laying a new foundation cast in concrete, not on quicksand,” he said.

Platinumpost reports that Tinubu had, on May 29, 2023, during his inauguration as Nigeria’s 16th President, announced that “fuel subsidy is gone,” a declaration that immediately triggered fuel scarcity and sharp increases in pump prices across the country.