{
  "id": 15648296,
  "title": "You can’t ask Moses to return to Egypt, Tinubu tells subsidy critics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/you-cant-ask-moses-to-return-to-egypt-tinubu-tells-subsidy-critics",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T20:32:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/you-cant-ask-moses-to-return-to-egypt-tinubu-tells-subsidy-critics/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Bola Tinubu dismissed calls for the reinstatement of fuel subsidies in Nigeria, likening such demands to asking Moses to return to Egypt. The comparison was made during a speech on Monday to members of the City Boy Movement, where Tinubu warned that continuing to pay the subsidy would lead to Nigeria's financial ruin. He stated that his administration removed subsidies on the first day of its administration and emphasized that there was no money left to continue the subsidy payments. Despite opposition figures promising to reverse the decision, Tinubu maintained that Nigeria must not revert to its previous economic path. He cited biblical and Quranic accounts of Moses and Musa leading the Israelites out of Egypt to emphasize the unchangeability of his decision. The removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023 led to a surge in petrol prices, impacting transportation costs and overall economic stability. The government's recent intervention to mitigate the effects of rising petrol prices has been defended as not reversing the subsidy-removal policy.",
  "summary": "President Bola Tinubu has likened calls for a return to fuel subsidy to asking Moses to return to Egypt, insisting Nigeria cannot afford the policy. Read More: https://punchng.com/you-cant-ask-moses-to-return-to-egypt-tinubu-tells-subsidy-critics/",
  "key_points": [
    "His administration removed subsidies upon taking office, with no funds left to continue payments.",
    "Tinubu cites biblical and Quranic references to reinforce his decision against economic reversal."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ripples Nigeria",
        "title": "“Nigeria will go bankrupt”, Tinubu rejects calls to restore subsidy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/nigeria-will-go-bankrupt-tinubu-rejects-calls-to-restore-subsidy",
        "published": "2026-10-19T20:17:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "You’re campaigning for your future, Tinubu tells City Boy Movement",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/youre-campaigning-for-your-future-tinubu-tells-city-boy-movement",
        "published": "2026-10-19T20:29:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "You’re campaigning for your future, Tinubu tells City Boys",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/youre-campaigning-for-your-future-tinubu-tells-city-boys",
        "published": "2026-10-19T21:12:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}