Ezekwesili Slams Tinubu’s ‘Subsidy Is Gone’ Declaration As Ill-Planned Braggadocio.
Former Nigerian Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s abrupt declaration of fuel subsidy removal, labelling it as driven by “braggadocio” and lacking proper planning. Speaking at a panel discussion during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Enugu on 25 August 2025, Ezekwesili argued that while the subsidy removal was a necessary reform, its hasty execution has plunged Nigeria into economic turmoil, exacerbating poverty and inflation.
On 29 May 2023, in his inaugural address as Nigeria’s 16th President, Tinubu declared, “Fuel subsidy is gone,” a statement that immediately triggered a doubling of fuel prices and sparked widespread economic disruption. Ezekwesili, a former World Bank Vice President, described the move as a “good reform done the wrong way,” asserting that the lack of preparation led to spiralling inflation that has disproportionately harmed the nation’s poorest citizens. “When we train in economic policy, you really have to prepare for reforms. That reform was not prepared for,” she said, highlighting that the policy’s fallout has left over 133 million Nigerians trapped in poverty.
The panel session saw Ezekwesili clash with Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who defended the subsidy removal, stating that continuing payments would have been unlawful due to the absence of budgetary provisions in 2023. Tunji-Ojo argued that Nigeria’s $25 billion annual subsidy expenditure was unsustainable and that funds saved are being reinvested in infrastructure to boost production. However, Ezekwesili countered that the government’s refusal to heed feedback and implement safety nets worsened the economic fallout, leaving the poor without a buffer against inflation.
Ezekwesili further called on Nigeria’s legal profession to hold the political class accountable, lamenting that the country “lies prostrate for the poor.” She accused the government of rewarding prebendalism and failing to address systemic issues, urging lawyers to safeguard judicial independence and demand better governance. The audience at the NBA conference expressed overwhelming dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s economic policies, with many indicating a lack of confidence in the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
The controversy underscores broader concerns about the Tinubu administration’s economic strategy, with critics arguing that the abrupt subsidy removal, coupled with foreign exchange reforms, has deepened Nigeria’s economic woes. While the government insists the reforms are necessary to avert financial collapse, Ezekwesili’s critique highlights the need for meticulous planning and inclusive policies to mitigate hardship for Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens.