July 02, (THEWILL) — Former presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, has said the decision by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to remove fuel subsidies was driven by economic necessity, not political sabotage.
Shehu, who served as Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former President Buhari between 2019 and 2023, clarified the rationale behind the controversial policy move during a media chat ahead of the launch of his forthcoming book titled “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience.”
The removal of fuel subsidies, announced shortly before President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, triggered a wave of public anger due to soaring fuel and commodity prices.
Critics have since accused the Buhari administration of leaving behind a politically risky policy that exposed the new government to immediate backlash.
But Shehu dismissed such claims, maintaining that the decision was taken in good faith to stabilise the economy and set the stage for long-term reform.
He said: “The subsidy removal was not intended to burden the incoming administration.
“It was an economic decision meant to lay a foundation for reforms. The Buhari-led government carefully considered the options and acted in the country’s best interest.”
He added that the administration had hoped its successor would sustain and build on the reforms, rather than be weighed down by them.
The comments come amid ongoing national debates over the impact of the subsidy removal, which remains one of the most contentious policy legacies of the Buhari administration
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