Mahdi Shehu Accuses FG of Using Fuel Subsidy Removal to Protect Corruption

Political commentator Mahdi Shehu has accused the Federal Government of using the removal of the fuel subsidy to protect corruption rather than eliminate it.

In a post shared on X on Wednesday, Shehu described the policy as “the biggest scam, theft and corruption in the history of Nigeria,” drawing comparisons between past subsidy payments and recent spending claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

He noted that the total fuel subsidy for 2021 and 2022 amounted to ₦5.7 trillion over the two years combined. However, he questioned NNPCL’s claim that it spent ₦17.5 trillion from January to December 2025 to secure oil pipelines.

“Subsidy removal did not curb corruption, it nurtured and protected it,” Shehu wrote.

He also argued that despite the subsidy removal, Nigeria continues to rely heavily on borrowing.

“Even with the so-called subsidy removal, we still keep borrowing to stop borrowing,” he said.

Shehu further alleged that a powerful group is benefiting at the expense of ordinary Nigerians.

“From all intents and purposes, we have a clique, cartel and cabal whose main aim is to pauperise 250 million people and eventually destroy Nigeria,” he claimed.

“Shame, Big shame in the primitive thieves with thievery constituting 100% of their pathology.”

Politics Nigeria recalls that Tinubu announced the removal of the subsidy on petrol immediately after he was sworn in on May 29, 2023.