Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has clarified his position on the removal of fuel subsidy, stating that his disagreement with President Bola Tinubu was not about the policy itself but the manner in which it was implemented.
Speaking during an interview with journalist Rufai Oseni, Obi said he has always supported the removal of fuel subsidy but would have carried it out through a more structured and transparent process.
According to him, he would have first engaged key stakeholders in the petroleum sector and addressed alleged irregularities surrounding the subsidy regime before making any public announcement.
The former governor also said subsidy removal should have been accompanied by broader reforms, including measures to tackle corruption and manage exchange-rate challenges.
He argued that economic reforms must be carefully coordinated to ensure that citizens understand their purpose and can feel their benefits.
Obi questioned the impact of the policy on ordinary Nigerians, noting that despite the removal of subsidy, many citizens continue to face economic hardship.
He further argued that government borrowing has continued even after the policy change, raising concerns about whether the expected benefits have been fully realised.
The interview went thus …
Rufai Oseni: “You keep criticizing President Tinubu over the removal of fuel subsidy. What would you have done differently?”
Mr Peter Obi: “I didn’t criticize Tinubu for removing the subsidy. I said I would have removed it, but in an organized manner. I wouldn’t have announced it at my inauguration. I would have first sat down with operators in the industry because we know there is a lot of crim!nality around the subsidy.
I would remove it to determine the exact amount being spent on subsidy and also address the issue of exchange rate deregulation. But in doing these things, the most important thing is to fight corruption head-on. Since the subsidy was removed, what has been the impact on the average Nigerian? We have even borrowed more money than we used to when subsidy was still in place.”
Watch video below …
Rufai Oseni: “You keep criticizing President Tinubu over the removal of fuel subsidy. What would you have done differently?”
Mr Peter Obi: “I didn’t criticize Tinubu for removing the subsidy. I said I would have removed it, but in an organized manner. I wouldn’t have announced… https://t.co/2iw4sviSzB pic.twitter.com/AQfEb94fxu
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) June 16, 2026
