Independence: Professor Urges Tinubu to Reintroduce Fuel Subsidy to Ease Economic Hardship

Independence: Professor Urges Tinubu to Reintroduce Fuel Subsidy

As Nigeria celebrates its 64th independence anniversary, Professor Kenneth Azaigba has advised President Bola Tinubu to reintroduce fuel subsidies. He believes this would reduce economic hardship for Nigerians.

The Case for Fuel Subsidy

Azaigba, a History professor at Federal University Dutse, explained in an interview that bringing back the fuel subsidy could stabilize the Nigerian economy. According to him, the issue isn’t the subsidy itself, but its poor management over the years.

“When President Tinubu announced that ‘the subsidy is gone,’ the naira devalued sharply. This affected the lives of many Nigerians,” he said. He stressed that subsidies are essential for the survival of any economy.

Current Economic Hardship

Azaigba noted that the recent hike in fuel prices and electricity tariffs has made life difficult. He emphasized that the government needs to act fast to ease this economic pressure.

“Some of these policies need to be revisited,” he argued. “Economic policies should improve lives, not make them worse.”

Concerns Over Naira Devaluation

The professor expressed deep concern about the rapid devaluation of the naira. “The constant drop in the naira’s value is making life tough for Nigerians. President Tinubu must rethink the economic reforms,” Azaigba warned.

Reflecting on 64 Years of Independence

Despite these challenges, Azaigba acknowledged that Nigeria has made some progress. “While progress has been slow, Nigeria is on the path to development. However, the government must take more decisive steps to address our economic challenges,” he concluded.