Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Public Communications and Orientation to President Bola Tinubu has emphasized the commitment and resilience of the Nigerian leader amid challenging economic reforms.
Dare, in a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, expressed his belief that Tinubu deserves commendation for his bold decision to end the fuel subsidy—a policy move he acknowledged as difficult yet necessary for Nigeria’s progress.
Dare highlighted Tinubu’s unyielding dedication to addressing Nigeria’s issues, revealing that the president often works well into the early hours of the morning to tackle pressing matters.
“Tinubu is adept at governance. [He is] a man who burns the midnight oil when other men of easy virtue are carousing around.”
“This is a man I worked with for seven years and we sleep at 4, 5, 6 in the morning,” the former minister of sports and youth development said.
According to Dare, this work ethic reflects Tinubu’s focus on fulfilling his promises to the Nigerian people.
Since assuming office, Tinubu’s administration has introduced several reforms, the most notable being the removal of the fuel subsidy. This move has sparked debates and even led to public protests due to its immediate financial impact on Nigerian citizens.
In August and October of this year, demonstrations were held, with citizens calling for the president to reconsider some of his policies in light of rising living costs.
Despite these challenges, Tinubu has remained committed to his decisions. He has urged Nigerians to remain patient, promising that the reforms will eventually yield positive results. Dare, echoing this sentiment, described Tinubu’s approach as courageous, saying the president has taken “the road less travelled” by choosing difficult, yet essential, reforms.
The subsidy removal, long seen as a politically sensitive topic, has been attempted by previous administrations with limited success.
By pushing forward with this reform, Tinubu aims to redirect funds previously spent on subsidies toward more sustainable economic development initiatives.
However, the immediate consequence has been an increase in fuel prices, which has in turn affected costs across various sectors, from transportation to food.
Dare acknowledged the economic strain caused by these reforms but insisted that Tinubu is fully aware of the difficulties. “He knows the burden on the citizens,” Dare noted, emphasizing that Tinubu’s administration is striving to bring stability and growth to the Nigerian economy.
