El-Rufai Raises Alarm: Fuel Subsidy Reinstated, Public Uninformed

In a recent statement to the press in Maiduguri, Borno State, former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, disclosed that fuel subsidy has been reintroduced by the federal government, albeit with little public awareness.

El-Rufai emphasized that the government is now allocating even more funds towards fuel subsidy than before. He highlighted the inadequacy of support packages aimed at mitigating the impact of subsidy removal, which prompted the policy reversal.

The initial decision to remove fuel subsidy was announced by President Bola Tinubu in his inaugural speech, citing its lack of justification. However, El-Rufai, while expressing his support for the policy, noted the necessity for adjustments in its implementation.

He pointed out that despite the government’s efforts to minimize the impact, the subsidy’s reinstatement became imperative due to its inefficacy in curbing rising fuel costs. El-Rufai urged the public to compare petrol and diesel prices, affirming that petrol, currently priced at N600 per liter, is being subsidized, unlike diesel.

El-Rufai’s remarks came during a presentation titled “Leadership and Public Policy: Navigating Challenges and Lessons” at a capacity-building workshop for senior government officials of Borno State.