The Politics of Nigeria's Fuel Subsidy Removal: Issues, Obstacles, and Future Directions

Abstract This paper examines the politics of Nigeria's fuel subsidy removal, delving into the issues, obstacles, and future directions for politics around subsidy in Nigeria. The paper argued that fuel subsidy removal will help the government to generate more funds to boost the economy of Nigeria. findings of the study showed that the artificial low domestic oil price maintained by the fuel subsidy has deterred new investment in Nigeria's oil sector over the years, Nigeria's fuel subsidy disproportionately benefits the rich, not the poor, as against the popular believe by the masses. The Nigerian government has neglected the use of its regulatory framework to govern the state, while the performance of the nations refineries has been below optimal. The paper recommended among others the fortification of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Department of Petroleum Resources, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and Ministry of Petroleum Resources as well as institutional rules by the executives for optimal performance of the petroleum sector to address public needs, and to hold these institutions accountable, keep them independent from any organization or individual that would try to use the aforementioned institutions for their personal gain. The study concluded that the social and centrifugal forces vying for dominance inside Nigerian society have escaped the state's control. These indicates that the state is failing because it is unable to fulfill its obligations to its people.