Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has strongly criticized Nigeria's fuel subsidy removal policy, describing it as a mechanism that has shielded and even encouraged corruption rather than eliminating it.
In a widely shared post on X (formerly Twitter), Shehu labeled the policy as "the biggest scam, theft, and corruption in the history of Nigeria." He highlighted stark contrasts in government spending figures to support his argument.
Shehu pointed out that the total fuel subsidy payments for 2021 and 2022 amounted to ₦5.7 trillion over the two-year period. In comparison, he questioned recent claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that it spent ₦17.5 trillion between January and December 2025 solely to secure oil pipelines.
"Subsidy removal did not curb corruption, it nurtured and protected it," Shehu asserted.He further noted that, despite the removal of the subsidy, the country continues to rely heavily on borrowing. "Even with the so-called subsidy removal, we still keep borrowing to stop borrowing," he stated.
Shehu accused a powerful elite group of exploiting the situation at the expense of ordinary citizens. "From all intents and purposes, we have a clique, cartel and cabal whose main aim is to pauperise 250 million people and eventually destroy Nigeria," he claimed.
He concluded his remarks with harsh condemnation, calling the situation "shame, big shame" and referring to those involved as "primitive thieves with thievery constituting 100% of their pathology."
The comments come amid ongoing debates over the economic impacts of the subsidy removal policy, which was fully implemented under the current administration, and persistent questions about transparency in oil sector expenditures and national debt management.
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