The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned that any move to restore petrol subsidy could undermine Nigeria’s recent economic progress. The minister pointed out that
returning to the former subsidy regime would put pressure on government finances, weaken investor confidence and potentially reverse gains recorded under the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Idris added that subsidy removal had freed significant resources for governments at all levels to fund infrastructure, security, education, healthcare and social programmes. He cited government figures showing that savings from the subsidy removal generated about N15.8 trillion in resources for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025, with the Federal Government receiving about N5.43 trillion, states N6.52 trillion and local governments N3.88 trillion.
Idris argued that bringing back petrol subsidy would recreate the fiscal pressures, market distortions and opportunities for arbitrage that made the previous system unsustainable. He noted that Nigeria was already spending heavily on electricity subsidies and urged Nigerians to consider the long-term consequences of reversing the reforms. He further called on the general public to focus on building a stronger and more productive economy rather than returning to a subsidy system he described as unsustainable.