Fuel Subsidy: Reinstatement Will Deepen Poverty — NOA Warns

NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu 

Don't Bring Back Fuel Subsidy, It'll Worsen Poverty - NOA Boss

NOA warns against fuel subsidy Reinstatement amid poverty concerns...

Nigeria's fuel subsidy removal sparks protests and economic challenges. NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu urges adaptation, while President Bola Tinubu reaffirms commitment to economic reform amidst demands for governance reforms and anti-corruption efforts.

National Orientation Agency (NOA) Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu urged Nigerians to develop strategies to cope with the economic challenges resulting from the fuel subsidy removal by the Tinubu administration.

Issa-Onilu, a former spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC), cautioned that reinstating the fuel subsidy, as demanded by protesters, would worsen poverty levels, emphasizing the need for Nigerians to adapt to the new reality.

“Anybody who is making a demand that subsidy removal should be brought back is making an emotional demand, not an economic demand because you have to also prove that if it is brought back, it will solve the issue of poverty; it will not, it will aggravate it,” Issa-Onilu said.

“So, what we should be doing is: How do we survive in spite of the removal?' We need to promote all the efforts of this government to ensure that we survive without that subsidy.”

Issa-Onilu also recognized that the relationship between leaders and citizens in Nigeria has been strained due to a legacy of unmet expectations and failed promises, leading to a significant trust deficit.

Issa-Onilu said, “It is difficult to talk to a people who have for several years been let down. Nigerians feel let down. The first question they ask you is: 'Is this another promise that will not be kept?' So, we must prove to Nigerians that this government is keeping to its promises.”

In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, August 5, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to removing the petrol subsidy, despite the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests. He acknowledged the decision's difficulty but emphasized its necessity for driving economic reform.

The subsidy's removal, initially announced on May 29, 2023, has resulted in a substantial price hike, with petrol prices soaring from approximately N184 to over N700 per litre, significantly impacting consumers and sparking widespread protests.

The introduction of the unified forex window and subsequent devaluation of the naira have further exacerbated the economic challenges, leading to increased food prices and inflation. As a result, protesters are demanding a range of measures, including the reinstatement of the petrol subsidy, reforms to the forex regime, and urgent action to address food shortages, unemployment, and government spending.

The protesters' demands also encompass broader governance reforms, including reducing the size of the cabinet and associated costs, as well as reforms to key institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Additionally, they are calling for intensified efforts to combat corruption and ensure greater accountability in government.