Nation

Tinubu’s sudden announcement of subsidy removal created untold hardship, says Prof Sagay

Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, has observed that the sudden manner in which President Bola Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, created untold hardship for Nigerians.

“The immediacy and the sudden manner of the decision to remove petrol subsidy has created an immediate level of hardship which is almost becoming unbearable,” Sagay stated.

The senior lawyer stated this in an interview aired on Channels Television on Friday.

Sagay noted that Tinubu should have waited for six months after his inauguration before removing the fuel subsidy.

Sagay was of opinion that the Tinubu administration should have waited for the commencement of petrol production locally before removing subsidy petrol.

“Petrol is critical to our lives. The cost of living is going up, and basic living is now expensive. I think we might have gone on for another six months and as internal production was coming up, then the subsidy can be removed.
“I am not in full agreement with the way and order some of the things are being done now.

“On the issue of petrol, I would have been happier if the government had been patient to allow internal production to commence before removing the subsidy.

“Now, Dangote is now producing. And of course, the refinery in Port Harcourt is almost ready. Perhaps, if we had waited a little longer, the transition will not have been harsh.

“We are in it already but I think we are in competent hands and we will get out of it.

“We’ve been on this subsidy for decades and a few more months would not have killed us. You can see the difference in lifestyle now,” he said.

Sagay also said there should be urgent halt to the “deterioration of the value of the naira”.

He said, “I never dreamt that there would be a time when the dollar would change for over N1,000 to a dollar. It has to stop, otherwise, it will destroy everything that the government is trying to do.”

The senior lawyer expressed confidence in the Tinubu-led government and its ability to provide quality leadership for Nigerians.