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Onoh Urges Nigerians To Support Fuel Subsidy Removal, Gives Reasons
Dr. Josef Onoh, a former spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu in the south east, has emphasized the importance of removing Nigeria’s high expenditure on petroleum subsidy. According to him, redirecting these funds towards other sectors of the economy would directly improve the lives of middle and low-income citizens.
Although President Tinubu has not officially announced the withdrawal of the controversial oil subsidy, Dr. Onoh urges Nigerians to consider the actions of other countries, particularly in Africa, that have taken the bold step of eliminating the substantial costs associated with subsidizing the consumption of foreign petroleum products.
He highlights that such subsidies often disproportionately benefit the wealthy, who own multiple vehicles, rather than the poor citizens who rely on public transportation systems.
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Onoh urged Nigerians and whichever groups that are warming up for agitation against the new government of Bola Tinubu to be critical and understand that President Tinubu did not remove the oil subsidy by himself, but should know that no provision was made in the 2023 appropriation to fund the luxury of subsidizing the importation of petroleum products which as at today stands at $867 million or N400 billion every month, for products that are essentially consumed by the upper class or go out the country through smuggling, because the products are cheaper in Nigeria than its neighboring countries.
Onoh cited other African countries that had done away with oil subsidy such as Ghana that was spending $25.6 million every two weeks on fuel subsidy before the country cut off the strangulating yoke and had become free and stable after the old Gold Coast liberated itself from the subsidy bondage.
He also made a comparison with Republic of Cameroon which removed subsidy on oil and deregulated its markets, adding that even Nigeria experts such as the President of African Development Bank (ADB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina had also prescribed the removal of oil subsidy with its high cost on the Nigerian economy of $10 billion in 2022.
Citing more instances of other African countries that have made testimonies of their break through with the removal of subsidy in oil, Onoh gave the example of Egypt which in 2019 broke off completely with the subsidy oppression and implemented an International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic overhaul template, even when gasoline, diesel and kerosene were sold at 85 to 90 percent international cost within Egypt before it completely broke the yoke and liberated the country from the economic strangulation.
Onoh said that it was not only Tinubu who agreed that subsidy on oil should be removed, recalling that during electioneering campaign period and debates, all the presidential candidates of different political parties supported removal of oil subsidy.
“Ghana removed the subsidy after 30 years, and if you look at the progress and the economic stability in the present day Ghana, Nigerians will know that we cannot continue with oil subsidy at the detriment of our economic stability. Both the rich and the poor will face hardship but we should look at the collected benefit rather than the immediate hardship.
“There is no other way because we are caught in-between the devil and the deep blue sea. There is no way we can continue benefiting the rich while the poor get poorer. The only way we can have a balanced economy is when even the poor can have access to these basic needs. In the short term, the removal will cause panic but the cabals behind the refusal to remove the fuel subsidy are the greatest beneficiaries of that subsidy.
“So, they will play in the minds of the innocent poor, trying to make it look as if the government is against the poor, but the Tinubu administration is eager to balance our economy just like other countries have done. We should sustain that confidence,” Onoh said.
He noted that Canadian government, United Kingdom, the United States of America and other foreign countries will all show more confidence in the Nigeria economy.
“But we also need to show that we want our economy to grow and we cannot continue to rely on half term measures, riding on a Tiger’s back, not thinking it could as well turn around to kill us. So we should back this administration.
“The test of our Progress is not whether we avoid temporarily removing the fuel subsidy out of fear of hardship for Nigerians which in turn will add to the abundance of those who have much and beneficiaries of the subsidy, rather it is whether the current administration provides enough after it’s removal for those who have too little,”Onoh encouraged.
The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has suspended a professor in the Department of Chinese Studies, Prof. Ifeanyi Odinye, for three months over an alleged sexual assault involving a female student.
The suspension, approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Anyaehie, followed the preliminary report of a six-member special investigative panel set up to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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The university said Odinye would serve the suspension with half salary in the first instance.
The development follows an August 15 incident in which the professor was allegedly assaulted and stripped by some students after he was accused of attempting to sexually molest a female student in his office.
A video of the incident subsequently went viral on social media. In the footage, the female student was seen leaving the lecturer’s office with his clothes while alleging that he had attempted to sexually assault her.
The lecturer was later seen being pursued and assaulted by individuals believed to be students before leaving the university premises in a tricycle.
According to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Aloysius Attah, the investigative panel chaired by Prof. Emmanuel Obidimma, Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, has so far addressed two of its five terms of reference.
Attah said the panel’s preliminary report indicted Odinye for allegedly violating Section 5.8.3 of the university’s General and Academic Regulations.
He explained that the professor allegedly failed to properly record and submit an examination misconduct case involving the student, Chikamso Favour Okechukwu, using the prescribed examination misconduct report form.
The lecturer was also accused of returning an offending phone recovered during the examination to the student on the same day, allegedly in violation of Section 5.8.1(iv) of the university’s regulations.
Meanwhile, the student involved in the matter has been referred to the university’s Student Examination Misconduct Committee.
The Vice-Chancellor has extended the investigative panel’s assignment by another two weeks to enable it to complete its remaining terms of reference.
According to Attah, the outstanding issues include determining whether sexual harassment occurred, identifying those involved in the assault on Odinye and establishing whether there was any incident of kidnapping.
“The committee members are expected to conclude their findings with recommendations to the Vice Chancellor before a final verdict is initiated, including possible criminal prosecution,” the university spokesman said.
Attah added that the Vice-Chancellor had reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of staff and students, while maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards unethical practices.
The university also stressed that transparency and fair hearing would be upheld throughout the investigation as the panel works towards its final recommendations.
Former South-East spokesman of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Denge Josef Onoh, has urged President Bola Tinubu to review the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 election.
Onoh made the call in a memorandum addressed to Tinubu, expressing concerns over the 223-member campaign council and what he described as inadequate representation of key APC stakeholders and loyalists from the South-East.
He warned that the composition of the council could undermine the party’s mobilisation efforts in the region ahead of the presidential election.
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According to Onoh, the structure used for the 2023 presidential campaign was more inclusive and provided opportunities for regional stakeholders and grassroots mobilisers who played roles in the party’s campaign.
He alleged that the latest campaign structure failed to adequately accommodate some longstanding APC supporters in the South-East.
Onoh also questioned the region’s representation in key operational, policy and management directorates of the campaign council, arguing that broader inclusion would give stakeholders a greater sense of ownership of Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The former campaign spokesman further criticised the council’s media structure, saying the campaign required experienced political communicators capable of effectively responding to the opposition.
“With the strict exception of only two persons who possess genuine fire and strategic depth, the current media team completely lacks the political tenacity and intellectual grit to face the opposition’s sophisticated PR machinery,” Onoh said.
He warned that leaving experienced campaigners and media operatives out of the structure could create vulnerabilities for the APC and provide opposition parties with an opportunity to gain political advantage.
Onoh therefore called on Tinubu to order a comprehensive review of the 223-member campaign council, with particular attention to geopolitical balance and the inclusion of established party leaders and grassroots mobilisers.
He also urged the President to strengthen the campaign’s media team by bringing in politically experienced and resilient communicators.
Onoh further appealed to Tinubu to ensure that APC stakeholders across the country felt a sense of ownership of the re-election campaign.
“Mr. President, do not let the short-sighted selfishness of a few handlers ruin the future of your administration. You cannot win a national re-election by shrinking your support base and telling an entire region they have no stake in your campaign,” he said.
He maintained that broader representation and effective coordination would be crucial to the APC’s efforts to retain the presidency in 2027.
A 56-year-old shoemaker identified simply as Anthony has reportedly died by suicide inside the Obudu Main Market in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, August 23, 2026.
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Anthony, who was said to be from Bekwarra Local Government Area, was found dead inside the market, prompting community leaders to shut down the facility.
The leaders reportedly demanded N300,000 from the deceased’s family for cleansing rites, insisting that the circumstances surrounding his death were considered sacrilegious.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the deceased was a 56-year-old man simply identified as Anthony.
Eitokpah said the police had commenced an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the death and determine whether foul play was involved.
He said, “Police operatives visited the scene, documented the area, and recovered the body to the mortuary. The circumstances surrounding the death are yet to be established.
“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
The police spokesman’s statement indicates that the exact circumstances of Anthony’s death remain under investigation.
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