Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, arguing that successive administrations recognised the policy’s shortcomings but lacked the political will to abolish it.
Wike spoke on Wednesday at a political stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, where he urged Nigerians and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the FCT to support Tinubu and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.
The minister, who coordinates the Tinubu/APC Presidential Campaign Council in the FCT, recalled that Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023.
“There is no president that came that said fuel subsidy was not a scam. Every president said it was a scam. But nobody had that courage to say it will go,” Wike said.
He acknowledged that the removal had contributed to the rising cost of living but expressed optimism that prices would decline as the administration’s economic reforms stabilised.
“We agree that the cost of things are a bit high. By the time the reform is stabilised, the cost of living will come down. That is the sacrifice of removing the fuel subsidy,” he said.
Wike also defended the administration’s broader economic policies, claiming that increased allocations to state governments had reduced their dependence on bank loans.
He further argued that the administration had made progress in the education sector, claiming that public universities had not experienced strikes during Tinubu’s tenure.
“Since three years now, has there been any strike in university? Has there been any strike? Let us just say the truth. There has been no strike,” the minister said.
However, Wike acknowledged that the administration had not resolved every challenge facing the country, while insisting that it had recorded progress in addressing several problems.
“We cannot say that this administration has solved every problem, no. But within the three years they have come, they have solved a lot of problems,” he added.
Turning to the 2027 elections, the minister urged FCT PDP members to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, as well as the candidacies of Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda and Dr John Gabaya.
Wike cited the decision of a PDP area council chairman to mobilise support for Tinubu as evidence that some opposition party members were backing the President’s second-term ambition.
He also assured campaign supporters that adequate logistics would be provided to facilitate mobilisation ahead of the elections.
“All the logistics for our campaign, you will have it. Everything you will have it,” Wike said.
