{
  "id": 5772034,
  "title": "Fuel Subsidy: Nigerians shouldn’t pay for govt’s failures — Makinde",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/fuel-subsidy-nigerians-shouldnt-pay-for-govts-failures-makinde",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T11:02:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/fuel-subsidy-nigerians-shouldnt-pay-for-govts-failures-makinde/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has advocated for a reconsideration of Nigeria's petroleum pricing system, contending that citizens should not bear the brunt of the government's failure to secure the country's borders. In his latest newsletter, The Business of Governance, Makinde questioned the current debate over subsidizing petroleum products versus allowing Nigerians to pay market prices. He argued that the real question should be about establishing a fair, transparent pricing framework for an oil-producing nation like Nigeria.\n\nMakinde emphasized the need for transparency in the determination of pump prices, including the crude oil benchmark, refining costs, exchange-rate assumptions, logistics and distribution expenses, taxes, and levies. He proposed that disclosing these variables would enable Nigerians to scrutinize the calculation of petroleum product prices at the pump.\n\nRejecting the notion that higher petrol prices could deter smuggling, Makinde stressed that the government bears the responsibility for maintaining border security. He argued that taxpayers should not be forced to compensate for the government's inability to prevent the influx of petroleum products into neighboring countries.\n\nMakinde announced that he would unveil an alternative approach to the nation's petroleum pricing system in the coming weeks, encouraging Nigerians to evaluate the proposal objectively. He suggested that the focus of the petroleum debate should be on whether the current pricing arrangement aligns with Nigeria's specific circumstances and ensures citizens receive a fair return from the country's resources.\n\nBeyond petroleum pricing, Makinde proposed a broader \"Reset Nigeria\" initiative that would encompass various aspects of the economy, security, education, institutions, and the social and political landscape of the country. He stressed that addressing Nigeria's challenges requires more than individual changes in government; it necessitates the reform of systems and institutions that have consistently produced subpar results.\n\nMakinde highlighted the persistent poverty, lack of progress for many families, and limited opportunities for young Nigerians as evidence of the need for comprehensive reform. He stressed the importance of accountable leadership and active citizen participation in the national reset effort, emphasizing that transforming the country would be a collective endeavor, not the sole responsibility of one individual.",
  "summary": "Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has called for a rethink of Nigeria’s petroleum pricing system, arguing that citizens should not be made to bear additional costs arising from the government’s inability to secure the country’s borders. Makinde, in the latest edition of his newsletter, The Business of Governance, said the national conversation on petrol subsidy […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}