Tinubu took political risk by removing fuel subsidy — Alake

The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, praised President Bola Tinubu's decision to remove the fuel subsidy in Nigeria, despite the political risks and immediate hardships it created. Speaking at an event with members of the All Progressives Congress Press Corps in Abuja, Alake explained that previous administrations had known about the need to remove the subsidy but delayed it due to concerns about elections and its political consequences.

Tinubu, however, chose to "take the bullets" on behalf of Nigerians by implementing the reform, even though it was a difficult decision for a politician sensitive to elections, according to Alake. Alake argued that the subsidy mainly benefited fuel cartels and wealthy Nigerians while leaving the government with fewer resources to invest in infrastructure and other productive sectors.

He emphasized that there is no shortcut to genuine reforms, as previous governments had the knowledge of corrective measures but lacked the courage to implement them. Alake commended Tinubu for his decision, stating that it demonstrated statesmanship and commitment to the nation's long-term economic recovery.