By Adamu Hamzer Marree Talum
If we critically recall, one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first major declarations after assuming office in 2023 was: “The subsidy is gone.”
Today, however, we are witnessing what appears to be a U-turn by the same presidency that previously argued that maintaining or restoring fuel subsidy was economically unsustainable. The government is now reconsidering measures aimed at reducing the high cost of transportation, which every reasonable Nigerian knows has been largely worsened by the removal of fuel subsidy.
It is surprising that the government is only beginning to acknowledge the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians as the next election approaches and as former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has indicated his intention to restore subsidies in key sectors, including fuel, education, and agriculture.
The government has consistently described subsidy as economically unwise and a sign of economic backwardness. Yet, it is now indirectly reconsidering policies aimed at reducing transportation costs. This raises an important question: Why now?
The reality is that the removal of fuel subsidy has significantly increased transportation costs and placed enormous pressure on the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians. Workers, students, farmers, traders, and other ordinary citizens continue to feel the impact.
Therefore, I wish to draw the attention of well-meaning Nigerians to the Federal Government’s current efforts to address the high cost of transportation. We must carefully examine these measures and ensure that Nigerians are not deceived by temporary interventions introduced merely for political purposes as elections draw closer.
Rather than being swayed by short-term measures, Nigerians should critically evaluate the policies, promises, and track records of all political parties and candidates before making their choice at the polls.
This is the time to demand affordable living conditions, food security, accessible education, and sustainable economic policies.
If Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his political platform present a credible and workable alternative for addressing the hardship Nigerians are experiencing, then Nigerians should be willing to consider and test that alternative based on its policies and capacity to deliver.
Ultimately, the priority should be the welfare of the Nigerian people—not political calculations.
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