I would’ve removed fuel subsidy in organized manner, didn’t criticize Tinubu – Peter Obi

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has disclosed how he would have removed the subsidy on petroleum products if he was the president.

Obi disclosed that he would have removed the subsidy on fuel in an organized manner and not on the day of his presidential inauguration.

In 2023, President Bola Tinubu had removed the subsidy on fuel during his inauguration as Nigeria’s president.

However, Obi said he would have met with stakeholders in the Petroleum sector first before announcing the subsidy removal.

Obi spoke in an interview with Rufai Oseni while dismissing claims that he criticized Tinubu over the manner he removed the subsidy on fuel.

He said: “I didn’t criticize Tinubu for removing the subsidy. I said I would have removed it, but in an organized manner. I wouldn’t have announced it at my inauguration.

“I would have first sat down with operators in the industry because we know there is a lot of crim!nality around the subsidy.

“I would remove it to determine the exact amount being spent on subsidy and also address the issue of exchange rate deregulation. But in doing these things, the most important thing is to fight corruption head-on.

“Since the subsidy was removed, what has been the impact on the average Nigerian? We have even borrowed more money than we used to when subsidy was still in place.”