Business
Obasanjo Criticizes Fuel Subsidy Removal Amid Rising Inflation and Protests
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo addressed the reemergence of the fuel subsidy in Nigeria, attributing its return to the inflationary pressures that have arisen since its removal.
The fuel subsidy, which was abolished in June 2023 by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, has reportedly reappeared due to escalating inflation, according to Obasanjo.
Obasanjo criticized the manner in which the subsidy was eliminated, arguing that the government failed to implement necessary preparatory measures before its removal.
He emphasized the need for a more strategic approach, suggesting that the removal of the subsidy was executed abruptly without adequate planning.
“The subsidy we thought we had removed is effectively back because of inflation,” Obasanjo noted.
He highlighted that there is considerable work required to address the economic issues at hand and called for a transition from a transactional economy to a transformational one to bolster investor confidence in Nigeria.
His comments come in the wake of persistent hunger protests across the country. These demonstrations, which began last Thursday, have now stretched into their fifth day, with a major demand being the reinstatement of the fuel subsidy.
In response to the protests, President Tinubu addressed the nation in a broadcast on Sunday, acknowledging the pain caused by the subsidy removal but defending it as a necessary measure. He argued that the subsidy was a significant burden on the country’s economic progress and development.
The impact of these economic changes is reflected in the sharp rise in core inflation, which surged to unprecedented levels of 34.19 percent and 40.87 percent in June 2024, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
MTN has moved closer to acquiring IHS Holding, following shareholder approval of the proposed takeover, marking another major milestone in the transaction.
The approval was secured during the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on 4 August, allowing the deal to progress to the next stage.
If completed, the acquisition is expected to strengthen MTN’s infrastructure capabilities by giving the company greater control over its telecommunications tower assets. Industry analysts believe the move could improve network efficiency, reduce long-term operating costs, and support MTN’s continued expansion across its markets.
The transaction is still subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions before it can be officially completed.
Nigeria’s three biggest cement manufacturers—Dangote Cement, BUA Cement, and HBM Nigeria—generated a combined ₦3.2 trillion in revenue during the first half of 2026.
The strong performance was driven by higher cement prices, increased demand from housing and infrastructure projects, and higher sales volumes across the country.
Compared to the same period in 2025, the companies recorded 26.5% revenue growth, showing that Nigeria’s construction sector continues to expand despite economic challenges. The companies also reported stronger profits and are investing further to increase production capacity to meet future demands.
Nigerian fintech company OPay has introduced new security features to improve the safety of its application.
The company unveiled the Emergency Lock and Safety PIN features to give customers better control over their funds and provide added protection against fraud and unauthorized transactions.
The Emergency Lock feature allows customers to instantly freeze their OPay account with a single tap whenever they sense a threat or believe their account may be at risk.
The newly launched Safety PIN introduces an additional layer of security, helping customers protect themselves in situations where they may be forced to make a transfer or payment against their will.
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