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Arise TV anchor, Rufai Oseni, has argued that Nigeria can operate a fuel subsidy regime without experiencing the long queues that were previously common at petrol stations.

Oseni made the remarks during Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he discussed the impact of local fuel production on petrol supply in the country.

According to him, the emergence of the Dangote Refinery has brought fuel production closer to the Nigerian market and could help prevent shortages regardless of whether subsidy is maintained.

He rejected the argument that restoring fuel subsidy would automatically lead to a return of long queues, noting that previous shortages were largely linked to challenges surrounding fuel importation and logistics.

“The argument that they made was that we don’t want to go back to the days of long queues. No, no. What caused long queues then was because of import logistics. Today, you have Dangote producing locally,” Oseni said.

He recalled that Nigeria experienced periods of fuel subsidy without persistent queues, arguing that local production could make it possible to maintain subsidy while ensuring steady supply.

“When we’re still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by,” he added.

Oseni also questioned who benefits most from fuel subsidies, arguing that ordinary Nigerians are not the primary beneficiaries.

According to him, major beneficiaries have been what he described as “crony capitalists” with large infrastructure and government contracts.

“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiary of the subsidy,” he said.

Fuel Subsidy Can Exist Without Petrol Queues’ — Rufai Oseni

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