The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended President Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, describing it as a difficult but necessary step towards improving government revenue and funding development across Nigeria.
Wike stated this on Saturday during an interactive town hall meeting with stakeholders of the Rainbow Coalition in the Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the removal of the subsidy had increased allocations to state and local governments, giving them greater financial capacity to implement infrastructure and other development projects.
According to the minister, successive administrations had acknowledged the challenges associated with the petrol subsidy regime but had been reluctant to remove it because of the anticipated economic and political consequences.
“Each time a president comes, fuel subsidy is a scam. What have you done with it? Another president will come; fuel subsidy is a scam. What have you done? Nobody has been able to take a courageous decision,” he said.
Wike said President Tinubu took the decision shortly after his inauguration in May 2023, despite the potential hardship it would impose on Nigerians.
He acknowledged the rising cost of petrol and other essential commodities but argued that the reforms had improved the financial position of state governments.
The FCT Minister claimed that some states now received monthly allocations of at least ₦15 billion, excluding other revenue inflows, and urged state governments to translate the additional resources into improved infrastructure, education and public services.
Drawing on his experience as former governor of Rivers State, Wike said the state received significantly lower federal allocations when he assumed office in 2015.
He also linked improved government finances to industrial relations in the education sector, claiming that public universities had not embarked on strikes during the three years preceding his remarks.
On infrastructure, Wike cited the Bonny-Bodo Road as an example of a project that had improved access to Bonny, where residents and officials had previously relied heavily on boats and helicopters for transportation.
He said the road had improved connectivity and mobility in the island community after years of delays.
The minister also criticised the management of some projects under the previous Rivers State administration, citing the proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Hospital, a monorail project and the sale of a power plant.
Wike alleged that $39 million had been paid for the proposed hospital without construction reaching the foundation stage. He also claimed that following the sale of a power plant to Sahara Energy for $308 million, only $308,000 remained in the state’s account when he assumed office in 2015.
The allegations were not independently verified, and the account figures and details of the transactions require documentary confirmation.
Earlier, Wike visited the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, at his palace in Bonny.
The monarch welcomed the minister and acknowledged his contributions to efforts to establish Bonny Polytechnic, address security concerns and advance the Bonny-Bodo Road project.
He described Bonny Kingdom as strategically important to Nigeria and called for greater recognition of its contribution to national development.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Bonny Chiefs’ Council, Se-Alabo (Amb.) Lt Col (Rtd) Dagogo Soala Claude-Wilcox, invited Wike to the 30th anniversary of the monarch’s coronation, scheduled for 21 December 2026.
The Chairman of the Rainbow Coalition, George Tubara Tolofari, also commended Wike for facilitating reconciliation among members of the group following a period of division.
Tolofari said reconciliation meetings in Port Harcourt and Bonny had brought together members of previously opposing political camps, expressing confidence that the renewed unity would strengthen the coalition.
The Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Abinye Blessing Pepple, also highlighted government initiatives relating to infrastructure, empowerment and economic opportunities.
