Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has questioned the benefits Nigerians have received since the removal of the petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Falana raised the concerns while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he urged Nigerians to demand accountability from the Federal, state and local governments over the additional revenue available to them following the policy.
The senior lawyer argued that the increased revenue should be reflected in better infrastructure and improved living conditions, particularly at the grassroots level.
He cited the condition of a road leading to Afe Babalola University in Ekiti State, questioning why residents were still looking to the Federal Government to fix the road when, according to him, the local government had received about ₦5.4 billion between January and May.
Falana questioned why part of the funds could not be used to address such infrastructure challenges, arguing that the repair would cost significantly less than the allocation received.
He also criticised the practice of state governments repairing roads and subsequently seeking refunds from the Federal Government.
According to Falana, the increased revenue available to all three tiers of government means Nigerians should begin asking more questions about how public funds are being spent.
The lawyer also questioned the government's explanation that the removal of the subsidy would free up resources for development.
He said Nigerians should not simply be told to wait for the benefits of the policy while struggling with the economic consequences.
“If you say we are making more money, we don’t want to go back to the era of the fuel subsidy scam. Where are the benefits?” Falana asked, warning that “people are dying.”
Falana further argued that Nigeria is now selling more crude oil and generating more revenue, but questioned how much of the money is being channelled towards improving the lives of citizens.
He said funds that had previously been earmarked for fuel importation should have generated significant savings, but argued that a substantial portion of government revenue was instead being used for debt servicing.
“That’s where the problem lies,” he said.
The human rights lawyer maintained that the Federal Government, state governments and local governments are receiving more money “on paper” and should therefore be held accountable for how the funds are deployed.
He urged Nigerians to pay closer attention to government spending and demand explanations from elected officials at every level.
The fuel subsidy was removed by Tinubu shortly after he assumed office in May 2023, triggering a sharp increase in petrol prices and transportation costs.
The Federal Government has defended the decision, arguing that the subsidy was costly and that its removal would free resources for development while giving states and local governments greater financial capacity.
However, the policy has remained one of the most controversial aspects of the Tinubu administration, with critics arguing that the resulting increase in the cost of living has placed enormous pressure on households and businesses.
Falana's latest comments come as political parties and opposition figures increasingly debate the economic impact of the subsidy removal ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former vice president and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to restore the subsidy if elected, while other political figures have argued that the policy itself is not necessarily the problem but that the resulting savings must be properly managed.
For Falana, however, the central issue remains accountability.
He argued that Nigerians deserve to see tangible improvements in roads, public services and living conditions if government revenues have increased significantly.
The lawyer's comments are likely to add to the ongoing debate over whether the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration are delivering meaningful benefits to ordinary Nigerians.
