Popular Nigerian actor-cum-comedian Seyi Law, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy despite attendant difficulties occasioned by the policy. According to him, the action, though painful now, would eventually be for the good of Nigerians as this would help the country’s economy recover from years of unsustainable spending on subsidy.
Seyi Law insisted that the fuel subsidy should have been removed long ago, more precisely in 2012 during the Goodluck Jonathan administration. He noted that the opposition to its removal then was being led by Tinubu, who is now overseeing its final removal. That is because Seyi Law believes that by now, the subsidy would have been abolished, Nigerians would have passed through the necessary adjustment period and would be in a better economic situation.
Reflecting on events of 2012, Seyi Law remembered being among the few celebrities who disagreed with the anti-fuel subsidy protests. He pointed to statements from the former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that the nation was borrowing to pay salaries, hence showing how much weight rested on the wheels for the nation to maintain the subsidy. Removing the subsidy was something that needed to be done by Nigeria to stave off further economic collapse.
While a large portion of Nigerians is presently groaning under the constant hike in fuel prices, Seyi Law said he hopes someday, the country would rise again. This, according to him, could be a healing process, and for the economy of Nigeria to get more self-sufficient and stand on her financial feet, it is all part of the process.
