Former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, criticized President Bola Tinubu’s justification for removing the petrol subsidy, asserting that ordinary Nigerians have not benefited from the policy.
Appearing on a Channels Television program, Okonkwo directly challenged the President’s claim that the subsidy system only benefited a few economic saboteurs and rent-seekers.
“Tinubu said he removed fuel subsidy, can you imagine him saying it was benefiting only a few, what a lie. We were paying N195 before fuel subsidy removal, we are now paying N1,000 and you are telling me I was not benefiting?” the politician stated.
He lamented that the massive surge in the pump price of petrol, which followed the “subsidy is gone” declaration on May 29, 2023, is clear evidence that the common man was indeed a beneficiary of the old system.
The removal of the petrol subsidy was one of President Tinubu’s first major policy decisions, which the government has consistently defended as a painful but necessary step to save the nation’s economy from fiscal collapse and redirect wealth.
The Presidency has repeatedly stressed that the funds saved, amounting to trillions of Naira, are being channeled into critical infrastructure like superhighways, as well as social safety nets to cushion the effect of the reforms.
Also, the government highlights that the policy has significantly improved the financial standing of state and local governments, enabling them to receive higher allocations from the Federation Account to address developmental needs at the grassroots level.
Despite these assurances, Okonkwo’s fiery comments reflect the ongoing public skepticism regarding the tangible benefits of the subsidy removal on the daily lives of citizens. See, More, Here>>>>
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