NANS REJECTS CALLS TO BRING BACK FUEL SUBSIDY

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected calls for the Federal Government to reintroduce fuel subsidy, urging Nigerians not to support what it described as an unsustainable approach to managing the country’s petroleum sector.
NANS said the focus should instead be on ensuring that the savings generated from the removal of the subsidy are properly accounted for and used to improve the lives of Nigerians.
The students’ body argued that bringing back the subsidy would place another heavy financial burden on the government and could reverse some of the gains expected from the reform.
According to NANS, Nigerians deserve transparency over how the funds saved from subsidy removal have been utilised, particularly at a time when citizens continue to face high living costs and economic hardship.
The association called on the Federal Government to provide greater accountability and transparency regarding the management of public resources.
NANS also urged the government to invest savings from the subsidy reform in critical areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure and other sectors that directly affect Nigerians.
The students’ position comes amid renewed calls from some Nigerians and political groups for the government to reconsider the fuel subsidy policy because of the impact of high petrol prices on households, businesses and transportation costs.
However, NANS maintained that returning to the old subsidy system would not provide a sustainable solution to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Instead, the association called for policies that would reduce the pressure on citizens while ensuring that the benefits of economic reforms are properly channelled to the people.
The debate over fuel subsidy remains one of Nigeria’s most contentious economic issues, with supporters of its removal arguing that the policy drained government finances, while critics say its removal has contributed significantly to the rising cost of living.
NANS said the priority should now be to ensure that Nigerians can see tangible benefits from the resources freed up by the subsidy reform.
Do you agree with NANS that fuel subsidy should not return, or should the government reconsider the policy to reduce the cost of living? Share your thoughts in the comments.