Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s removal of petrol subsidy, describing the policy as a necessary sacrifice and predicting that the cost of living will fall as the government’s economic reforms stabilise.
Wike spoke on Wednesday at a political stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, where he urged Nigerians, including members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
He argued that successive Nigerian presidents had described the petrol subsidy regime as fraudulent but failed to abolish it.
“There is no president that came that said fuel subsidy was not a scam. Every president said it was a scam. But nobody had that courage to say it will go,” the minister said.
Acknowledging the hardship Nigerians have faced since the policy change, Wike expressed confidence that the situation would improve as the reforms took hold.
“We agree that the cost of things are a bit high. By the time the reform is stabilised, the cost of living will come down. That is the sacrifice of removing the fuel subsidy,” he said.
The minister also defended the administration’s economic record, claiming that state governors no longer needed to obtain bank loans and that public universities had avoided industrial strikes under Tinubu.
“Nobody goes to the bank to get loan,” Wike said, referring to state governors.
“Since three years now, has there been any strike in university? Has there been any strike? Let us just say the truth. There has been no strike,” he added.
However, the minister admitted that the government had yet to resolve all the country’s problems.
“We cannot say that this administration has solved every problem, no. But within the three years they have come, they have solved a lot of problems,” Wike said.
His remarks come amid continuing concerns over the impact of the government’s economic reforms on household incomes and businesses.
Nigeria’s annual inflation rate fell to 14.63 per cent in September 2026, down from 15.39 per cent in August, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. However, food inflation remained high at 19.59 per cent, leaving many households struggling with the cost of essential goods.
The Federal Government has maintained that removing the subsidy and reforming the foreign exchange market are necessary to improve public finances and support long-term economic growth. It has also introduced temporary measures to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices on households and businesses.
Beyond defending the economic policies, Wike used the forum to mobilise support for Tinubu and candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
The minister, who coordinates the Tinubu/APC Presidential Campaign Council in the FCT, urged PDP members in the territory to support the President, as well as Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda and Dr John Gabaya.
“I know all the PDP FCT will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will support Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, will support Dr John Gabaya,” he said.
Wike cited the decision of a PDP area council chairman to mobilise support for Tinubu as evidence that members of the opposition party were already backing the President’s re-election campaign.
“He is of PDP, is it not correct? But you see, he has come out mobilising for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, mobilising for Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda,” he said.
He also assured supporters that the campaign would provide the resources needed for mobilisation.
“All the logistics for our campaign, you will have it. Everything you will have it,” Wike said.
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