Cynthia Morgan (Madrina) urges President Tinubu to roll back the full fuel subsidy removal due to the increasing hardship, inflation, and crime rates

Nigerian singer Cynthia Morgan, now known as Madrina, has made a heartfelt appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging the government to address the severe economic hardship facing Nigerians in the wake of the recent fuel subsidy removal.

In a candid video message shared on her TikTok page, Madrina expressed her frustration, revealing that while she initially supported the decision to remove the petrol subsidy, the current situation has become unbearable for many citizens.

“Are you guys feeling what I am feeling? I’m not even going to lie, I’m feeling it o!” she stated in the video. She went on to explain that despite the government’s reasoning behind removing the subsidy, the consequences are proving to be too much for Nigerians to bear.

Madrina pointed out the sheer scale of the financial strain, noting that the country had spent over $8 billion on fuel subsidies. She highlighted how this amount far exceeded Nigeria’s total annual revenue of around $20 billion for 2023/2024, raising questions about the sustainability of the subsidy removal.

“I was one of the persons who applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the removal of the fuel subsidy because you know what it is. But currently, I don’t think we have what it takes to live totally off subsidy removal on petroleum products,” she confessed.

According to the singer, Nigeria lacks the necessary structures to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal, leading to a sharp rise in inflation, as the price of petrol affects almost every other commodity.

The economic consequences, she said, have contributed to a weakening naira, higher import prices, and an increasing GDP per capita of just $860.

While acknowledging the long-standing issue of the petrol subsidy and the attempts by previous administrations, including that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to address it, Madrina stressed that the removal has not been implemented in a way that Nigeria can sustain. The country’s infrastructure and economic framework, she argued, are simply not prepared for such a drastic shift.

In her message, the singer passionately called for a compromise, asking the government to reconsider and at least roll back 50 percent of the subsidy removal, saying, “People are hungry.

Crime rates are increasing.” She emphasized that while it is understandable to reduce the subsidy, the government must also consider the current socio-economic reality.

Madrina concluded with a call to Nigerians, urging them to refrain from complaining or protesting aggressively. Instead, she suggested that citizens engage in a “begging challenge” to plead with the government for help and reconsideration.

“Let’s beg the government to help us, that they shouldn’t be angry. Maybe we have been irresponsible,” she said.

As the economic hardships continue to mount, Madrina’s plea for immediate government intervention has resonated with many Nigerians, who are grappling with the effects of rising fuel prices and inflation.