Nothing Has Come Out Of Subsidy Removal Except Poverty, Inflation, Insecurity – Dalung

Nothing Has Come Out Of Subsidy Removal Except Poverty, Inflation, Insecurity - Dalung

On December 18, 2025, former Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung voiced a scathing critique of the Nigerian government’s decision to remove fuel subsidies.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Dalung argued that the policy, which was expected to usher in economic relief and improved living standards, has instead deepened the country’s socio-economic woes.

Dalung stated that the removal of subsidies has not translated into tangible benefits for ordinary Nigerians. Instead, he highlighted that the policy has exacerbated poverty, hunger, inflation, and insecurity.

According to him, the government has failed to provide accountability or demonstrate how the savings from subsidy removal have been reinvested to improve the welfare of citizens. He insisted that Nigerians should have been enjoying a better standard of living by now, but the opposite has occurred.

The former minister’s remarks reflect a broader public sentiment of frustration and disillusionment. Fuel subsidy removal was initially presented as a necessary step to stabilize Nigeria’s economy, reduce corruption, and free up funds for infrastructure and social programs.

However, Dalung’s assessment underscores the reality that the anticipated benefits have not materialized. Instead, the cost of living has surged, transportation and food prices have skyrocketed, and insecurity has worsened as economic hardship fuels social unrest.

Dalung’s intervention adds to the growing chorus of voices questioning the government’s economic management. His criticism suggests that without transparency and effective redistribution of resources, subsidy removal risks becoming another policy that burdens citizens rather than alleviating their struggles.

The statement also raises pressing questions about governance, accountability, and the social contract between the Nigerian state and its people.

Dalung’s position is that the subsidy removal has failed to deliver on its promises. Rather than ushering in prosperity, it has entrenched poverty, heightened inflation, and aggravated insecurity, leaving Nigerians to grapple with the harsh consequences of a policy that was meant to improve their lives.