Nigeria’s long running argument over fuel subsidies has returned to the centre of national politics, with the ruling All Progressives Congress defending President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms while the opposition African Democratic Congress demands a clearer explanation of how trillions of naira in additional government revenue have been spent.
The dispute comes as many Nigerians continue to face high transport, food and energy costs more than three years after Tinubu ended the country’s costly petrol subsidy. While the government says the policy has strengthened public finances, opposition leaders argue that ordinary families have yet to see enough benefit from the money saved.
The ADC says about 15.8 trillion naira in additional public resources was generated between June 2023 and December 2025 following the subsidy removal and other reforms. The party says Nigerians deserve a full account of how the money was distributed and what improvements it has produced in schools, hospitals, roads and other public services.
“The contradiction is impossible to ignore,” the ADC said in a statement. “Government is counting trillions while Nigerian families are counting the meals they can afford.” The party has also questioned how state and local governments have used larger allocations from the Federation Account since the reforms began.
The APC has rejected suggestions that the subsidy should simply be restored. Party leaders say bringing back the old system could place renewed pressure on public finances and reduce the money available for salaries, pensions, infrastructure and social programs. APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda said the policy should not be judged only by the price motorists pay at filling stations.
“A policy cannot be judged only by its immediate benefit at the pump,” Yilwatda said, arguing that the wider cost to government finances must also be considered. The APC maintains that ending the subsidy was necessary to free up money for other national priorities and reduce waste in the petroleum sector.
Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy shortly after taking office on May 29, 2023. The decision immediately pushed fuel prices higher and became one of the most consequential economic measures of his presidency. His government also introduced changes to the foreign exchange system and other reforms aimed at attracting investment and stabilizing Africa’s most populous country.
For ordinary Nigerians, however, the effects have often been felt through higher daily expenses. Petrol prices have risen sharply from the levels seen before the subsidy was removed, and those increases have affected bus fares, food transportation, electricity generated by private generators and the operating costs of small businesses.
The subsidy question is also exposing differences within the opposition. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has supported a more targeted form of intervention to reduce fuel costs, while Peter Obi has argued against returning to the previous subsidy structure and has instead called for greater transparency in how the savings are used. Other political figures have said Nigeria should be able to sell fuel more cheaply if its oil and refining sectors are properly managed.
As Nigeria moves toward the 2027 election season, the debate is likely to grow more intense. For Tinubu and the APC, the challenge will be convincing voters that the hardship caused by the reforms is producing lasting economic benefits. For the opposition, the central argument will remain simple: if the government is collecting and saving more money, Nigerians want to see the difference in their everyday lives.
