Shettima Explains Why Tinubu Omitted Fuel Subsidy Removal from Inaugural Speech

Vice President Kashim Shettima has explained that President Bola Tinubu deliberately excluded his plan to remove petrol subsidy from his inaugural address in order to avoid external pressure and attempts to discourage the policy before it was implemented.

Shettima made the remark while speaking during a recent visit to the President’s residence in Lagos, where he reflected on the early decisions taken by the administration after assuming office.

According to him, the subsidy removal was not a spontaneous decision announced on inauguration day, but a policy that had already been concluded before Tinubu was sworn in.

He explained that the President intentionally left it out of his speech because including it publicly at the time could have triggered lobbying and persuasion efforts that might have altered or delayed the reform.

Shettima described the decision as an example of “courageous leadership,” noting that the administration believed the policy was necessary for long-term economic stability despite its short-term impact on citizens.

The Vice President also added that the subsidy removal has since strengthened federal and state finances by increasing revenue allocations and improving fiscal space for development projects.

The comments come as the administration continues to defend its broader economic reforms, which include subsidy removal and other structural adjustments aimed at stabilising Nigeria’s economy.