Former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun has voiced her strong support for the tax reforms and fuel subsidy removal initiated by the President Bola Tinubu administration, calling them inevitable decisions needed to protect Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking on Channels Television, Adeosun praised the government’s push to harmonize data across various agencies, including TIN, NIN, and BVN, saying she was “excited” by the move.
She argued that once data is integrated, “it becomes very difficult to hide,” allowing authorities to use tools like AI to easily identify wealthy individuals and large corporations who benefit from public resources without paying their fair share of taxes.
Adeosun, who championed the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) during her tenure to combat tax evasion, noted that compliance has historically been weak.
She also reflected on her time in office, stating that every minister knew the fuel subsidy was “killing” the country, and she recently revealed that powerful figures within the Buhari administration exploited the controversy over her NYSC certificate to force her resignation.
On insecurity, she shared a personal story of being robbed at knifepoint in her home but said she sees a clear political will from the current government to tackle the long-standing issue.
Away from politics, Adeosun’s social enterprise, DashMe Stores, has raised over ₦500 million for orphanages and vulnerable people and is expanding from Lagos and Abuja to other cities like Abeokuta, Ibadan, and Kano.
