Presidency Defends Fuel Subsidy Removal
The Presidency says President Bola Tinubu will not restore the fuel subsidy because the previous system mainly benefited fraudulent operators. Presidential aide Daniel Bwala argued that the administration prefers targeted subsidies in areas like healthcare and agriculture that directly support Nigerians.
The Presidency says President Bola Tinubu has refused to restore the fuel subsidy because the system mainly benefited fraudulent operators rather than ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, argued that the previous subsidy regime was heavily abused within the petroleum sector.
According to Bwala, many of the people benefiting from the policy were not Nigerians, while corruption remained widespread in the industry. He explained that the administration believes the old system failed to serve the public interest.
He said: “The reason President Tinubu has refused to return the subsidy on fuel is that historically the beneficiaries of this subsidy are not the Nigerian people. It is fraud people in that industry.”
Bwala also clarified that the current administration is not completely opposed to subsidies. He pointed to government support in sectors such as healthcare and agriculture as examples of targeted interventions designed to help citizens directly.
“The concept of subsidy itself is not anathema to this government. That’s why you see that we have subsidized on dialysis 50%. We have subsidized in areas of agricultural element, things that affect our people,” he stated.
The presidential aide added that state governments have benefited from increased revenues following the removal of the fuel subsidy. He claimed many governors now support the policy because of improved financial allocations.
Bwala also described President Bola Tinubu’s leadership style as flexible rather than rigid. According to him, the administration remains open to reviewing policies depending on national needs and economic realities.
He added: “President Bola Tinubu’s style of leadership is not rigid. It’s flexible. That’s why, even with borrowing, he said it is not leprosy. If there is a demand for subsidy, President Tinubu will do that for now.”
The debate around the fuel subsidy remains one of Nigeria’s most discussed economic issues as citizens continue to face rising living costs.
Do you think removing the fuel subsidy was the right decision for Nigeria’s economy?
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