Former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has said Nigerians are yet to feel the benefits of the increased revenue accruing to the federal and state governments following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Akande made this statement on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he questioned the impact of the subsidy removal on ordinary Nigerians.
According to the former presidential aide, although the Federal Government justified the decision by citing the financial burden of the subsidy on public finances, many Nigerians at the grassroots continue to struggle with its consequences.
“The decision of fuel subsidy, that was the decision that was taken at the Federal level, the president came and said that subsidy is gone,” Akande said.
He noted that the removal of the subsidy was expected to free up revenue for the government but argued that ordinary citizens had yet to see meaningful benefits from the additional funds.
“So many people said this subsidy has become a financial burden to the federal government, the people at the grassroots are being impacted by that decision from the federal government,” he stated.
Akande added, “I have not seen the kind of real exchanges of the impact of these subsidy. Now there is no more subsidy, there is money in the hands of the president and governors but guess what, the people are not benefitting from the increased revenue.”
Akande Demands Justice Over Fuel Subsidy Scam
The former presidential aide also called for accountability over what he described as a longstanding fuel subsidy scam, questioning why those allegedly responsible had not faced consequences.
Akande argued that Nigerians, particularly low-income earners, continue to bear the burden of the subsidy removal while those implicated in past subsidy-related abuses have not been held accountable.
“The scam of the subsidy that has happened over the years which we all agreed is a scam, nobody has been called to pay for it, there is still impunity, no consequences, the poor and common Nigerians are still the ones holding the end of the stick,” he said.
He further questioned why political parties had not made justice for Nigerians affected by the alleged scam a major issue.
“And these are the issues we need to press in, where is the benefit of the increase in revenue? People are complaining, where is the justice of the people who scammed Nigerians for years?” Akande asked.
He also challenged political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), to address the issue of accountability and demand consequences for those responsible for the alleged abuses.
Akande’s comments have renewed attention on questions surrounding the distribution of revenue saved through fuel subsidy removal, the cost-of-living pressures facing Nigerians and the need for accountability in the management of public funds.