Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy was a well-thought-out strategy to avert economic pitfalls. In an exclusive interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, Ngelale clarified that Tinubu, although the implementer of the subsidy removal, inherited the plan upon assuming office.

According to Ngelale, Tinubu’s announcement on May 29, 2023, preceded the deadline for subsidy payments until July 1, 2023. “The plan was already in place before Mr. President took office,” Ngelale emphasized, shedding light on the National Assembly’s budget supplement approval to finance the subsidy until July 1.

“I want to make that clear that it is for a reason he came out on May 29,” Ngelale explained, underscoring Tinubu’s foresight to plan ahead of the subsidy removal deadline. “He is the implementer but it was envisaged before he got there,” Ngelale reiterated.

Ngelale further revealed Tinubu’s immediate actions upon assuming office, stating, “As an accountant, the first thing he would have done when he got onto the seat was, I want the balance sheet, I want to know exactly what money is where.” This, Ngelale argued, led Tinubu to realize the dire economic situation and the impracticality of delaying subsidy removal until July 1.

Addressing speculations of political vendetta against Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ngelale dismissed the notion as “misplaced.” “If there was anyone who would be a subject of political vendetta, it wouldn’t be somebody who didn’t even scale through the political primary,” Ngelale clarified.

Ngelale’s insights provide a deeper understanding of Tinubu’s administration’s economic decisions and dispel misconceptions surrounding political motives.