Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2009 to 2014, has been a vocal and consistent advocate for the removal of fuel subsidies in Nigeria. His position, articulated over more than a decade, is rooted in economic reasoning, emphasizing the unsustainability, inefficiency, and corruption embedded in the subsidy regime. Below is a detailed exploration of Sanusi’s stance on subsidy removal, supported by his public statements, economic arguments, and the broader context of Nigeria’s fiscal challenges.

His position, reiterated in 2025, frames the policy as a painful but necessary step to avert economic collapse, with savings redirected to productive investments and palliatives. While his views align with economic conventions and data showing Nigeria’s unsustainable debt trajectory, they have sparked debate due to the immediate social costs.