The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has finally broken its silence on its alleged role in President Tinubu’s fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria.
The clarification was made by Abebe Selassie, IMF’s African Region Director on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, US.
According to Abebe, the decision to remove the fuel subsidy was entirely Nigeria’s.
“The decision was a domestic one. We don’t have programmes in Nigeria. Our role is limited to regular dialogue, as we have with other nations like Japan or the UK,” Abebe said.
The IMF’s statement aims to clarify misconceptions regarding its involvement in Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal, emphasizing that the decision was made solely by the Nigerian government. Abebe Selassie’s remarks summarize the IMF’s role as a facilitator of dialogue rather than an influencer of domestic policy decisions. This clarification may serve to alleviate concerns among Nigerians who may have perceived external pressure in the subsidy removal process.
