Tinubu Says Nigeria Cannot Go Back On Subsidy Removal

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ruled out the possibility of restoring petrol subsidy, maintaining that Nigeria cannot return to the policy after his administration decided to end it.

Tinubu made this position known while addressing members of the City Boy Movement at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, October 19, 2026. He defended his decision to remove the subsidy when he assumed office, arguing that the country’s financial situation left little room for the government to continue funding it.

The removal of petrol subsidy has remained a major issue in Nigeria, with its effects felt in the cost of transportation, food and other essential goods. While some Nigerians have called for measures to ease the burden on households, Tinubu has maintained that bringing back the subsidy is not the direction his government intends to take.

During his address, the president referred to the biblical account of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. He used the story to explain why, in his view, Nigeria should not return to a policy his administration has already abandoned.

Tinubu said:

"I came and I removed subsidy the first day. I knew Nigeria would go bankrupt. There was nothing left to pay subsidy. I could listen to my political opponents promising a return to subsidy. I remember my scripture studies, both in the Bible and in the Holy Quran. When Moses and Musa left Egypt, they faced a challenge, and the Red Sea parted and gave way. You cannot ask Moses to go back to Egypt. With your energy and support, never will we go back to Egypt. We will campaign with our ideas, original thoughts and deep thinking to move this country forward."

His comments make clear that the administration intends to maintain its position against reinstating petrol subsidy, despite continuing debate over the economic consequences of its removal.

For many Nigerians, the central concern remains the cost of living. Higher petrol prices affect more than motorists, as transport operators, traders and businesses often pass increased operating costs on to consumers. This can make everyday expenses more difficult for families already dealing with rising prices.

The debate over subsidy removal therefore involves two major questions: how the government can manage public spending without returning to the previous arrangement, and what steps it can take to reduce the financial pressure on ordinary Nigerians.

Tinubu's statement also comes as political parties and their supporters look towards the 2027 general election. During his address, he called for support for his administration's approach, saying the country should move forward through new ideas and deeper thinking rather than return to its previous position.

The president said his administration does not intend to restore petrol subsidy. The wider discussion over the policy's economic impact, however, remains an important part of the national conversation about the cost of living and Nigeria's economic future.

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