Fuel Subsidy Removal Has Driven Nigerians Into Poverty, Kenneth Okonkwo Says

African Democratic Congress chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the fuel subsidy, describing the policy as ill-advised.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Okonkwo argued that Nigeria should not have a fuel subsidy in the first place, given the country’s oil resources and production capacity.

“There ought not to be a subsidy in the first place in Nigeria because oil is our product,” he said.

However, he questioned the impact of the subsidy removal on ordinary Nigerians, particularly amid the sharp increase in petrol prices.

Okonkwo said petrol currently sells for about ₦1,300 per litre and used the cost of filling a 100-litre vehicle tank to illustrate the pressure facing households.

“The cost of fuel today is about N1,300 per litre. A Nigerian who has a vehicle with a 100-litre fuel tank will have to pay N130k to fill it up, which is almost twice the minimum wage of a Nigerian,” he said.

According to him, a worker earning ₦70,000 would need to spend a significant portion of that income to buy fuel, leaving little for essential expenses such as rent, food and healthcare.

“Meaning N70,000 paid to a Nigerian can only afford him half a tank for his vehicle, no rent, no food, no medicals, nothing,” Okonkwo added.

The ADC chieftain linked the situation to broader concerns about poverty and living standards, arguing that the government should pay greater attention to the hardship faced by Nigerians.

“That’s why the IMF is telling you that more than 35 million Nigerians are struggling to feed. No responsible or compassionate leader will sit down and accept such a level of induced poverty by this regime,” he said.

Okonkwo’s comments come as the debate over fuel subsidy removal remains a major issue ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures continuing to criticise the economic policies of the Tinubu administration.