15 northern states may collapse if subsidy returns, don warns

A university professor has cautioned that reintroducing petrol subsidies in northern Nigeria could cause up to fifteen states to fail within three months. This warning comes amid a proposal by a presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to reinstate the subsidy if elected in 2027. Tunji Ogunyemi, the professor from Obafemi Awolowo University, explained that this move would decrease the funds available from the Federation Account, which most states depend on for financing their operations.

He warned that the financial consequences would not only affect these states but also the federal government, potentially impacting its ability to meet obligations to workers and pensioners. Ogunyemi also questioned Atiku's proposal, suggesting that he should be more explicit about the potential impacts of restoring the subsidy.