Nigerian president rules out return to fuel subsidies, calling move painful but necessary

By Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu

KANO, Nigeria (AA) - Rebuffing nationwide protesters, Nigeria’s president on Sunday ruled out a return to fuel subsidies, a move which the opposition blames for deaths during recent demonstrations.

In a nationwide broadcast to Nigerians on Sunday morning, Bola Tinubu said that although the decision to end the subsidies was painful, it was necessary as it acted like a noose around the economic “jugular of our nation and impeded our economic development and progress.”

He told the protesters that law enforcement agencies would continue to ensure the full protection of life and property and asked them to immediately suspend demonstrations and come forward for dialogue.

While commiserating with the loved ones of people who lost their lives, Tinubu added that it was his duty to ensure public order, saying his administration cannot “stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.”

On Saturday, hundreds of young people took to the streets of Kano, Northwestern Nigeria on the third day of #EndBadGovernance protests, and even flew a Russian flag urging President Vladimir Putin to intervene in the country.

The protests began on Thursday over lingering economic hardship, hunger, and fuel subsidies in the country.