Tinubu took political risk by removing fuel subsidy — Alake

Dele Alake, Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals, has defended President Bola Tinubu's decision to eliminate the fuel subsidy, describing it as a necessary political risk for the country's long-term economic recovery. During an interview with the All Progressives Congress Press Corps in Abuja, Alake explained that previous administrations had known about the need to remove the subsidy but delayed the decision due to concerns about elections and its potential political fallout.

He highlighted that Tinubu, aware of the immediate hardships and backlash, chose to "take the bullets" for the Nigerian people, recognizing that there was no perfect time to make such difficult economic decisions. Alake pointed out that the subsidy primarily 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 meaningful reforms, and previous governments lacked the courage to make the necessary decisions for short-term political expedience. Alake praised Tinubu for taking the unpopular decision, which he believes is crucial for the nation's progress. He stressed that while some policies cannot be 100% foolproof, especially when involving human beings, statesmen must prioritize policies that serve the greatest good for the greatest number.