Babachir Lawal Accuses Tinubu Administration of Concealing Fuel Subsidy Payments

By Babatunji Wusu

• Former SGF alleges lack of transparency in fuel pricing policy
• Claims government secretly funding part of subsidy costs
• Warns policy inconsistency could harm public trust and economic stability

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of lacking transparency over Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal. Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Lawal alleged that the high cost of petrol does not reflect true market realities.

According to him, the government is secretly covering part of the subsidy costs to avoid deeper economic challenges. He argued that this quiet reintroduction of subsidy contradicts the administration’s earlier stance and raises doubts about its commitment to genuine economic reform.

Lawal noted that the Tinubu administration came into office on the promise of bold fiscal and economic changes, with the removal of fuel subsidy being one of its flagship policies. However, he said the current approach suggests a reversal of that policy in practice, if not in name.

“This raises serious questions about honesty in governance and the sincerity of the fuel subsidy removal policy,” he stated. He called on the government to provide Nigerians with clear data on actual landing costs of fuel, importation figures, and any hidden budgetary allocations related to subsidies.

The former SGF further warned that disguising subsidy payments under other budget lines could have severe consequences. “Hiding subsidy payments under other budget categories could worsen economic instability and damage public trust in leadership,” he cautioned.

He urged policymakers to adopt a more transparent approach, stating that only openness and consistency will reassure citizens and international investors that Nigeria is serious about economic reform.