A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kola Ologbondiyan, has criticised the Federal Government’s fuel subsidy removal, saying the policy is taking a heavy toll on Nigerians.
Ologbondiyan made the statement on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, while expressing support for the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his recent position on the subsidy issue.
According to him, the economic hardship resulting from the policy is affecting ordinary Nigerians and could ultimately have negative consequences for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He argued that the government should pay closer attention to the impact of fuel prices on households, businesses and the wider economy.
The comments come amid renewed exchanges between Atiku and Tinubu over the removal of the petrol subsidy.
President Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy during his inauguration at Eagle Square in Abuja on May 29, 2023, declaring that “subsidy is gone.”
Since then, petrol prices have risen substantially, contributing to higher transportation and living costs, while the Federal Government has maintained that removing the subsidy was necessary to reduce the financial burden on government and redirect resources to development.
Ologbondiyan’s comments add to the growing political debate over whether the subsidy removal has ultimately benefited the Nigerian economy or placed an excessive burden on citizens.
