Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba - Politics

Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba - Politics - Nairaland

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Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by dre11(op): 3:07pm On Jul 15, 2025

By Daily Trust

A former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has said ex-President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately retained the petrol subsidy during his tenure to prevent widespread hardship and loss of life among Nigerians.

Nwajiuba said this while appearing on ARISE Television, where he defended Buhari’s economic decisions and overall governance.

According to him, despite global economic turbulence, the Buhari administration managed to maintain relative stability in key areas.

“The former president held the subsidy so that Nigerians won’t die,” he said.

He added that “The number of deaths in the last two years alone has exceeded the number that voted from people dying from fuel tanker accidents, or just trying to survive.

“He knew this, and even told the BBC that he wanted to protect Nigerians ahead of other considerations”.

The former minister also pointed to macroeconomic data under Buhari’s government, describing it as a period that witnessed resilience amid crises.

“This is an economy that recovered from recession twice and survived the COVID-19 pandemic. We held the naira at under N500 to the dollar by the time he left. He did exceedingly well in economic terms,” he asserted.

Nwajiuba further cited figures from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), that acknowledged the shut down of at least 183 companies over the last two years alone.

He said this was in contrast to the “relative stability during Buhari’s administration”.

Sectors such as mining, non-oil exports, and oil production, he stated, saw remarkable improvements, with specific mention of policies around condensate production and export strategies.

“Everything we did in mining, improvements in non-oil exports and oil sector reforms were documented.

“The numbers are there to show. Buhari may not have known everything, but his efforts were deliberate and impactful,” Nwajiuba submitted.

https://dailytrust.com/buhari-retained-petrol-subsidy-so-nigerians-wont-die-ex-minister/

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by ojesymsym: 3:11pm On Jul 15, 2025

That is nice. At least we now know

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by SmartPolician: 3:14pm On Jul 15, 2025

That was one of Buhari's best legacies

When E-Bola came on board, he shouted, Subsidy is gone.

Yet, he had no idea how to manage the aftermath of subsidy removal.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by surgical: 3:20pm On Jul 15, 2025

The man even if he no do anything he helped pensioners, pay promptly and included them in payment of minimum wage, which made life a little bit bearable for them
But you see the agbero on the saddle now is completely removed from reality, no iota of empathy for anyone except people in his class and its because he will need their support
Pensioners are being descriminated against some are qualified for increase minimum wage why some will continue to receive old wage which no president has ever done, since everyone goes to the same market and are equally affected
Even as I type both workers and pensioners are yet to fully benefit from the minimum wage with arrears in several months, while the hardship is two years old
Tinubu is failure personified
Very self-centered

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by 9jatriot(m): 3:23pm On Jul 15, 2025

Yet in spite of all that, the amount of insults the man got was just too much.

The reality for President Buhari was that despite incurring massive debts to fund the fuel subsidy, he remained a constant target of public insults and accusations of economic failure.

This predicament suggests a strategic calculation by President Tinubu: since a leader is likely to face continuous criticism regardless of the subsidy's status, it is more pragmatic to endure the immediate backlash of its removal and, in turn, reap the significant fiscal benefits of reduced borrowing and currency stability.

This approach, while initially painful, aims to avoid the double bind of accumulating astronomical debt while still being perpetually insulted. It was a case of "damned if you do, damned if you don't" dilemma that Nigerian leaders face with the fuel subsidy. It's about weighing the immediate political cost against the long-term economic consequences.

Buhari was moved by passion, Tinubu is an accountant and knows how to deal with numbers more.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by columbus007(m): 3:26pm On Jul 15, 2025

Well, we don't care anymore 😕

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by Elusive001: 3:27pm On Jul 15, 2025*

So does it mean that Tinubu removed it so that Nigerians will die? Hmmmmm. Just thinking out loud.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by Mabuggi88: 3:35pm On Jul 15, 2025

Till tomorrow that decision was better. What subsidy did they removed? They just came and plunged people into excruciating hardship

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by Ikaeniyan0: 4:02pm On Jul 15, 2025

dre11:
https://dailytrust.com/buhari-retained-petrol-subsidy-so-nigerians-wont-die-ex-minister/

Nlfpmod

He should have stop paying it after the PIB was signed

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by nairalanda1(m): 4:35pm On Jul 15, 2025

Ye,s and in the process, he burdened us with a massive debt, in order to pay for the subsidy.

Same thing happened in Argentina for decades. Free government of stomach infrastructure by one government after the other. At the end, the debt was so large, that now they needed a MIllei to clean up house...and yes, it is a hard medicine.

This subsidy thing should have gone in 1992, by now we would have been free of that albatross...but Nigerians always want cheap stuff.

Most african countries do not have subsides. Are they starving? (Before you shout electricity...Ivory coast removed subsides on electricity in 1990. No more blackouts and grid collapse since then)

No, tinubu is still a bad leader, he removed subsidy because IMF and circumstance forced him to.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by eazzzy1(m): 4:36pm On Jul 15, 2025

He did it out of pity for Nigerians or he was too cowardly to implement a policy he campaigned with? Or perhaps he didn’t want to deal with the fall out of the removal. Hence, he eventually removed it but only after he left office. Yet people insulted and continue to insult him.

Buhari not getting rid of fuel & forex subsidy inflicted pain on Nigeria and Nigerians didn’t fare any better. If he was bold enough to do the hard thing, Nigeria will be benefiting from it today and his legacy would have been cemented forever.

For example he wasn’t exactly liked when he was head of state, but the legend of his discipline and strong stance against corruption was well documented, the exact reason he was supported to be President. Do the right thing, even when the process is difficult , people will celebrate the result.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by Jeezuzpick(m): 4:36pm On Jul 15, 2025

dre11:
https://dailytrust.com/buhari-retained-petrol-subsidy-so-nigerians-wont-die-ex-minister/

As the subsidy was removed, did we die?

What will this man now tell Tinubu?

In fact, if we want to be very detailed about his utterances, can we all remember that the provision for subsidy had been taken out of the budget before Tinubu became President, and Buhari did in fact remove the subsidy, only he did it as he was leaving?

These guys just talk for the moment and disregard the future, because they know they can tell another lie.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by ScamDemicEra: 4:36pm On Jul 15, 2025

... common sense dictates you first spend time putting the cushions in place before removing subsidy, subsidy is the only government policy that gives common man some relief

1 Like

Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by grandstar(m): 4:37pm On Jul 15, 2025*

We are dying from the excessive borrowing he had to take for us to "enjoy" the fuel subsidy.

The government was even borrowing money through ways and means from the government. This is basically asking the central bank to print you money to lend to you.0

When Tinubu assumed office, 97% of government revenue was going towards servicing debt. With the fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the Naira, it's down to 68%.

Buhari's economic illiteracy was legendary. He wanted to be popular.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by free2ryhme: 4:38pm On Jul 15, 2025

dre11:
https://dailytrust.com/buhari-retained-petrol-subsidy-so-nigerians-wont-die-ex-minister/

How will you not praise buhari when you benefitted from the govt

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by Angelfrost(m): 4:38pm On Jul 15, 2025

This statement is a direct insult to Tinubu and his administration...!

Is the nation currently better fit for subsidy removal than it was during Buhari's tenure?!!

SMH!!!

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by stuffs2002: 4:38pm On Jul 15, 2025

Only enemies of Nigeria will kick against subsidy removal.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by nairalanda1(m): 4:39pm On Jul 15, 2025

eazzzy1:
Yet people continue to insult him. You can’t please Nigerians.

The same buhari and tinubu marched against subsidy removal in 2012....

Also, keeping the subsidy left us with a debt that was eating 90% of our government revenue by August 2022.

Yes, it was a good decision...not.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by boxypane: 4:39pm On Jul 15, 2025*

[b]And what happened to the economy? Subsidy was a cancer on the economy.
An economy that was battered by the likes of those in power and those forming coalition.
It is at this technological age EFCC is finding out that some of these politicians are now hiding stolen funds by using Crypto
Listen to these politicians at your own peril. It's all misleading [/b]3

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by yemmight(m): 4:40pm On Jul 15, 2025

So Nigerians have died now? If had removed subsidy before the new government came in, we would have been better by now.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by hoygift(m): 4:41pm On Jul 15, 2025

Buhari is a star. You all don't even mind adding President behind his name anymore. If what I'm thinking is true, who then said that Nigerian youths are lazy?

Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by Urgent1Million: 4:42pm On Jul 15, 2025

So he's saying that the one who removed subsidy is a killer of Nigerians?
It's just a question oo.

Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by Chuksyno(m): 4:43pm On Jul 15, 2025

He retained it and his successor removed it and he had a cordial relationship with his successor. Buhari was the worse while Tinubu is the worst.

Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by CJStarz: 4:45pm On Jul 15, 2025

Inotherwords, Tinubu removed the subsidy so that Nigerians would kpai? Na una talk am o

Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by CommonSense1967: 4:45pm On Jul 15, 2025

SmartPolician:
That was one of Buhari's best legacies

When E-Bola came on board, he shouted, Subsidy is gone.

Yet, he had no idea how to manage the aftermath of subsidy removal.

Tinubu has the courage that others lacked. That the hallmark of true leadership.
Not just leading the people with unrealistic expectations and lies that will not lead to the ultimate goals.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by Mistersolar: 4:47pm On Jul 15, 2025

omo subsidy removal made pple loose job oo...tinubu no try at all....na GOD help me oo

Jeezuzpick:
As the subsidy was removed, did we die?

What will this man now tell Tinubu?

In fact, if we want to be very detailed about his utterances, can we all remember that the provision for subsidy had been taken out of the budget before Tinubu became President, and Buhari did in fact remove the subsidy, only he did it as he was leaving?

These guys just talk for the moment and disregard the future, because they know they can tell another lie.

Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by grandstar(m): 4:47pm On Jul 15, 2025

Imagine this man embellishing nonsense.

So many companies shut down in the first two years of Buhari that unemployment jumped from 8 5% to over 30%

Before Tinubu took over, Emirates and some multinationals had pulled out of Nigeria due to the chronic scarcity of forex. What is the point of an rate of N500 when you have no dollars to supply?

There was only $3bn in the net foreign reserves while owing buyers of fx, $7bn.

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Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by Gboom: 4:48pm On Jul 15, 2025

SmartPolician:
That was one of Buhari's best legacies

When E-Bola came on board, he shouted, Subsidy is gone.

Yet, he had no idea how to manage the aftermath of subsidy removal.

I'm very sure if we dig deep your comments here you are one of those who called Buhari failure severe times.
Why are changing the music?

1 Like

Re: Buhari Retained Petrol Subsidy So Nigerians Won’t Die – Ex Minister, Nwajiuba by Tjra: 4:49pm On Jul 15, 2025

SmartPolician:
That was one of Buhari's best legacies

When E-Bola came on board, he shouted, Subsidy is gone.

Yet, he had no idea how to manage the aftermath of subsidy removal.

You believed Buhari died 8 years ago according to Nnamdi Kanu.

Why aren't you calling Subsidy one of the legacies of Jibril Al Sudani?

Where exactly do you stand?

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