Nigerian comedian and actor Oluwaseyitan Aletile, popularly known as Seyi Law, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his decision to remove the fuel subsidy, a move that has sparked widespread discussion across the country. While acknowledging the economic hardship that the removal has caused many Nigerians, Seyi Law argued that it is a necessary step for long-term national benefit.
The entertainer, speaking during a recent media appearance, emphasized that the fuel subsidy should have been removed much earlier, citing 2012 as the missed opportunity when former President Goodluck Jonathan attempted the same move. He also recalled how protests, led by opposition parties and civil society groups, including Tinubu, prevented the removal at the time.
“Fuel subsidy should have been long gone,” Seyi Law remarked. “If it had been removed in 2012, we would have gone through the necessary pain and by now, we would have begun the healing process.”
Reflecting on his own involvement in the 2012 protests, Seyi Law noted that he was one of the few celebrities who openly opposed the anti-fuel subsidy movement, despite the overwhelming opposition to Jonathan’s government at the time. He recalled that former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had warned of the unsustainable financial burden the subsidy placed on the nation, which was borrowing money to pay salaries.
“Back then, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala clearly said the nation could no longer afford to pay salaries, and we were borrowing to stay afloat,” he added. “I took the stage to say this wasn’t sustainable, but the country wasn’t ready for that truth at the time.”
Seyi Law’s comments have sparked mixed reactions on social media, as Nigerians debate the impact of the subsidy removal. Many agree that the fuel subsidy was a heavy burden on the nation’s economy, but the sudden increase in fuel prices has caused significant hardship, affecting everything from transportation to food prices.
As the debate continues, Seyi Law insists that the long-term benefits will outweigh the current struggles, urging Nigerians to remain patient as the country adjusts to the new economic reality.
