The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned that restoring the petrol subsidy would plunge Nigeria’s economy back into the challenges it faced in previous years.
In a statement posted on the ministry’s social media platform on Monday, the minister said the removal of the subsidy had given the government greater fiscal space to invest in critical sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure and security.
He said restoring the subsidy would once again place significant pressure on the country’s budget and impose an additional burden on government finances.
Idris said those advocating the return of the subsidy should consider what the country would have to forgo in funding other important programmes.
According to him, since the subsidy was removed, the Federal Government, states and local governments have received additional revenues amounting to about N15.8 trillion between June 2023 and December 2025.
He added that about N6.47 trillion had been spent on major infrastructure projects, while more than N400 billion had been allocated to various social support programmes, including NELFUND, the housing investment fund and loan schemes for citizens and businesses.
“Should we restore the petrol subsidy or continue supporting the student loan programme for Nigerian youths?” the minister asked.
He also questioned whether critics of the subsidy removal would prefer the government to restore the subsidy instead of continuing to provide additional revenues to states and local governments, as well as funding roads, railways, electricity and security.
The minister urged Nigerians to consider the long-term benefits of the country’s economic reforms, stressing that the objective was to build a stronger economy capable of delivering sustainable growth and development.