Shettima Defends Tinubu's Economic Reforms at Summit

Vice President Kashim Shettima criticized proposals to restore petrol subsidies in Nigeria, defending the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu. Representing Tinubu at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Shettima questioned the economic judgment of a leading presidential aspirant advocating for the subsidy return.

He argued that Nigeria needed consistent economic policies rather than politically attractive promises that could undermine fiscal stability. Shettima defended Tinubu's decision to remove the petrol subsidy in May 2023, stating that the President inherited an economy in severe difficulty, with foreign reserves at $33.9 billion.

He described the previous subsidy arrangement as a "subsidy scam" that diverted public resources from productive activities. Shettima emphasized the importance of informed economic decisions that would endure beyond political leadership changes, noting that Nigeria's real Gross Domestic Product grew by 3.89 percent in the first quarter of 2026.