In Nigeria’s political theatre where yesterday’s protest becomes today’s policy, a striking twist is unfolding over the energy-economy front: leaders and parties who once railed against the removal of the fuel subsidy now find themselves in the uncomfortable position of not just accepting the reform—but implementing it.
From Protest to Policy
Back in 2012, under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan, the government announced the removal of the fuel subsidy, hiking petrol prices from ₦65 to ₦141 per litre, igniting mass demonstrations known as Occupy Nigeria. Opposition parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), trade unions and civil society groups rallied under the banner of “the poor will suffer”. An APC chieftain later admitted the opposition was borne “out of ignorance”.
Fast-forward to 2023: President Bola Tinubu formally scrapped the subsidy as part of a bold reform agenda. Analysts commended the fiscal discipline, while citizens felt the shock of steep pump-price hikes and inflation.
Yet the real twist lies in the political karma now playing out: those who once vociferously opposed the policy are now in government or aligned with power—and are tasked with executing the reform they once fought.
The Hypocrisy Spotlight
At an Oxford Global Think Tank event, former CBN governor Muhammadu Sanusi II revealed Jonathan’s team suspended the policy not because of public opinion, but due to security concerns—fearing the militant group Boko Haram might exploit protests. He pointed out:
> “There is a kind of poetic justice that it is actually the people who led the Occupy Nigeria movement who ended up inheriting the problem.”
Meanwhile, former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi chastised Jonathan for lacking the political courage to press on, despite backing from key governors. He observed:
> “When people want to blame the opposition… the truth of the matter was that the Governors’ Forum were the major advocates for subsidy removal.”
And yet the public narrative remains: the policy was opposed, the reform delayed, the consequences endured.
Why It Matters Now
1. Fiscal relief turned social pain
The removal of subsidy freed up billions of naira for infrastructure and development. The Information Minister confirmed as much:
> “The removal of fuel subsidy … freed resources for national development.”
But at the same time, the burden on households became real—fuel prices surged, transport costs ballooned, inflation surged beyond 30 %.
2. Delayed reform = deeper crisis
Sanusi suggested that if the 2011-12 policy had gone ahead fully, the pain would have been smaller. Now the actors who blocked the earlier attempt are responsible for cleaning up the mess.
3. Politics vs policy
What was once framed as a protest to protect the poor has morphed into a question of political responsibility. As Fayemi noted, the protests were “mere politics”. The irony? That politics now sit in cabinet chairs, overseeing the very reform they once resisted.
The Bigger Picture
This moment in Nigeria is more than mere policy change—it’s a lesson in accountability and irony. The same voices that mobilised street protests against subsidy removal in 2012 are today signing off budgets, coordinating reforms, and bearing the fallout.
It begs the question: when populist opposition becomes governance, are the lessons learned—or simply delayed?
🇳🇬 Whether you're a policy wonk, a politics follower or everyday Nigerian feeling the price of petrol at the pump, this is a story of cyclical power, reform deferred and responsibility realigned.
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