‘They lied to Nigerians’ – Kenneth Okonkwo accuses Tinubu govt of secretly bringing back fuel subsid

Kenneth Okonkwo, a lawyer and actor, has criticised Taiwo Oyedele over the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount initiative, insisting that the temporary reduction in fuel prices amounts to a subsidy despite the government’s description of it as a discount.

According to a report by The Sun on Monday, October 12, 2026, Okonkwo made the remarks during a discussion on Channels Television, where he questioned the explanation offered by the government concerning the temporary intervention in petrol pricing.

The lawyer argued that the policy should be assessed based on its purpose and effect rather than the terminology adopted by the authorities. He maintained that any arrangement designed to reduce the amount consumers pay for petrol could be regarded as a form of subsidy, regardless of whether the government chose to call it a discount.

Okonkwo specifically challenged the position attributed to Oyedele, who had reportedly maintained that the 30-day petrol price reduction did not amount to a restoration of the fuel subsidy system.

According to Okonkwo, the temporary nature of the measure did not change its underlying objective of making petrol more affordable for Nigerians. He argued that if the government was intervening to reduce the price paid by consumers, the policy shared the basic characteristics of a subsidy.

The disagreement centres on the distinction between a temporary price discount and a fuel subsidy, an issue that has attracted public attention amid continuing concerns over the cost of living and the price of petroleum products.

Okonkwo maintained that the government’s explanation failed to adequately address the substance of the intervention.

In his view, describing the measure as a discount did not automatically place it outside the category of subsidies, particularly if the government was providing financial support or making an arrangement intended to lower the effective cost of petrol.

He also questioned why the authorities appeared reluctant to describe the initiative as a subsidy, arguing that the terminology should not obscure the actual purpose of the policy.

During the television discussion, Okonkwo directly accused Oyedele of being dishonest in his explanation of the government’s position.

“Sorry to say this, Taiwo Oyedele lied when he said it was not subsidy. It was subsidy,” Okonkwo said.

The comments reflect the wider debate over the Federal Government’s handling of petrol prices following the removal of the longstanding fuel subsidy.

The policy change has remained a significant issue in public discussions, particularly as Nigerians continue to grapple with the rising cost of transportation, food and other essential goods.

The government’s 30-day petrol discount initiative has been presented as a temporary measure intended to provide some relief to consumers.

However, the disagreement between Okonkwo and Oyedele highlights differing interpretations of the policy and the criteria that should be used to classify government interventions in fuel pricing.

A key issue in the debate is whether a temporary reduction in the price of a product should automatically be considered a subsidy or whether the classification depends on the specific mechanism used to provide the discount.

The distinction may depend on how the arrangement is funded, who bears the cost and the terms under which the reduced price is offered.

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