Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s former presidential candidate, has described President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy as his first major governance mistake.
Speaking on Thursday, Adebayo argued that the decision, announced during Tinubu’s inaugural address in May 2023, was made without a proper understanding of economics.
He said the abrupt removal plunged millions of Nigerians into unprecedented hardship, with fuel prices tripling and inflation soaring.
Adebayo insisted that a gradual, well-planned approach would have cushioned the impact on ordinary citizens.
His remarks come amid ongoing public anger over the policy, which has yet to yield promised benefits such as increased investment in infrastructure or social welfare.
Many Nigerians continue to struggle with higher transport and food costs. Critics maintain that the government failed to put adequate palliatives in place before removing the subsidy, leaving the poorest to bear the brunt.
