The Presidency has explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has refused to bring back fuel subsidy in Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, said the decision was based on long-standing issues of fraud within the fuel subsidy system.
According to him, the subsidy scheme in the past was not mainly benefiting ordinary Nigerians, but was being exploited by some individuals within the oil and fuel sector.
He said, “The reason President Tinubu has refused to return fuel subsidy is because, historically, those who benefited were not really the Nigerian people. The system was full of fraud.”
Bwala explained that the administration is not against the idea of subsidy in general, but prefers to apply it in areas that directly impact citizens’ welfare.
He pointed out that the government has already introduced subsidies in other sectors, such as a 50% subsidy on dialysis treatment and support for agriculture to help farmers and reduce costs.
According to him, state governors are also benefiting from increased federal allocations since the removal of fuel subsidy.
He further described President Tinubu’s leadership style as flexible, saying the government is open to policy adjustments depending on national needs.
Bwala added that even borrowing is not completely ruled out under the administration, and said if there is strong public demand for fuel subsidy restoration, the government may still consider it in the future.