Tinubu Couldn’t Pay Subsidy Without Budget — Interior Minister

Interior Minister stated at a panel session during the Nigerian Bar Association's annual conference in Abuja that President Tinubu would not have been able to pay for fuel subsidy without a budget. The remark came after Tinubu declared in his May 29, 2023 inaugural speech that fuel subsidy would be eliminated, leading to a sharp rise in fuel prices nationwide.

Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili criticized the government's handling of the subsidy removal, arguing that the reform was necessary but poorly implemented. The Interior Minister countered by stating that the policy was inevitable due to the vast sums spent on subsidies annually.

He explained that the savings from subsidy removal would be redirected towards infrastructure projects aimed at stimulating production and creating growth.