The Government should have waited before removing subsidy. We are in it already, we are in competent hands and we will get out of it – Former Buhari Adviser, Prof Sagay

Prof. Itse Sagay, a former adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, expressed that President Bola Tinubu’s abrupt removal of subsidy resulted in significant hardships in Nigeria.

During an appearance on a Channels Television program on Friday, February 9, Sagay suggested that Tinubu should have delayed the removal of the fuel subsidy until six months after his inauguration.

“Petrol is critical to our lives. The cost of living is going up, and basic living is now expensive. I think we might have gone on for another six months and as internal production was coming up, then the subsidy can be removed.

“The immediacy and the sudden manner of the decision to remove petrol subsidy has created an immediate level of hardship which is almost becoming unbearable.”

“I am not in full agreement with the way and order some of the things are being done now. On the issue of petrol, I would have been happier if the government had been patient to allow internal production to commence before removing the subsidy.

“Now, Dangote is now producing. And of course, the refinery in Port Harcourt is almost ready. Perhaps, if we had waited a little longer, the transition will not have been harsh. We are in it already but I think we are in competent hands and we will get out of it.

“We’ve been on this subsidy for decades and a few more months would not have killed us. You can see the difference in lifestyle now.”

“I never dreamt that there would be a time when the dollar would change for over N1,000 to a dollar. It has to stop, otherwise, it will destroy everything that the government is trying to do.”