President Bola Tinubu has declared that the removal of the petrol subsidy in Nigeria is permanent, accusing opposition politicians of deceiving voters with promises to restore the policy ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Dutse, Jigawa State, the President insisted that returning to the subsidy regime would deprive the country of essential resources required for infrastructure development and economic recovery.
Tinubu, who did not name specific opponents, warned Nigerians against accepting campaign pledges that could undermine current economic reforms. “Don’t listen to those who are promising to return fuel subsidy, they’re liars. How do you build more roads? How do you repair the old ones? They don’t have your interest at heart, they only want to take care of their pockets and that of their children,” he stated. He reiterated that the decision to end the subsidy, announced during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, was irreversible and necessary to redirect public funds toward sectors such as education, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The President argued that Nigeria can no longer afford to devote substantial public resources to subsidizing petrol consumption, noting that the same funds could stimulate economic growth and improve living conditions. This stance reinforces his previous rejection of subsidy restoration at a campaign rally in Kaduna on October 24. Tinubu urged voters to scrutinize the promises of opposition candidates, maintaining that restoring the subsidy would undermine the government’s ability to finance critical development projects.
At the rally, Tinubu outlined plans to intensify agricultural efforts to increase food production and reduce prices. He announced the establishment of six mechanized farming service centers and the provision of interest-free loans to small-scale farmers to enhance food security and create employment. “Nigeria needs stable power supply and this is what we promise to give Nigerians. Besides, we are set to revive the agricultural sector in order to enhance food security and make food available at cheap prices for all Nigerians,” he said.
The President also highlighted ongoing initiatives, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and various road and railway projects, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to national development. He appealed to Jigawa residents to support his re-election bid and that of Governor Umar Namadi, promising that a second term would allow both administrations to consolidate ongoing projects. Governor Namadi pledged to deliver two million votes from the state’s 2.3 million registered voters.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who also addressed the crowd, urged voters to return Tinubu and Namadi for second terms. Senator Abdulaziz Yari, the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, dismissed allegations of regional bias against the President, citing the informal understanding on the rotation of presidential power between the North and South. Tinubu virtually commissioned several projects executed by the Namadi administration, including 400 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, 150 seeders, and a 3.5-kilometer dual carriageway.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
